cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organizational dimensions of effective digital library use: closed rational and open natural systems models

Behind the expectations that Digital Libraries (DLs) will provide access to any document at any time to anyone in any place are questions about whether digital collection, storage, and transmission are useful to people who depend upon library materials. This study focuses on DL use within the context of research activities in Ph.D.-granting institutions. We examine what constitutes effective DL use, how faculty members are using DLs, and how useful they find them. We conducted our study in faculty workplaces: The laboratories and offices where they conduct scholarly research. Our focus is on the human activity systems that unite readers, authors, librarians and researchers with electronic materials, resource streams, computer equipment and know-how. We examine practices involving three clusters of informants: Faculty researchers who produce and make use of scholarly materials, librarians who facilitate access to digital and nondigital collections, and computer support providers who manage the arrangements of electronic resources. Our study, which included two research universities in two disciplines (molecular biology and literary theory), provides a theoretical model for understanding DL use in different social worlds, and suggests preliminary DL use patterns to pursue in a follow-on study. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Saturable transport of peptides across the blood-brain barrier.

Abstract Peptides can be transported across the blood-brain barrier by saturable transport systems. One system, characterized with radioactively labeled Tyr-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly-amide), is specific for some of the small peptides with an N-terminal tyrosine, including Tyr-MIF-1, the enkephalins, beta-casomorphin, and dynorphin (1–8). Another separate system transports vasopressin-like peptides. The choroid plexus has at least one system distinguishable from those above that is capable of uptake and possible transport of opiate-like peptides. The possibility of saturable transport of other peptides has been investigated to a varying degree. Specificity, stereo-specificity, saturability, allosteric regulation, modulation by physiologic and pharmacologic manipulations, and noncompetitive inhibition have been demonstrated to occur in peptide transport systems and suggest a role for them in physiology and disease.
Quench rate sensitivity in U-0.75 wt.% Ti

Abstract The object of this study is to examine the consequences of subcritical quenching on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and aging behavior of U-0.75 wt.% Ti. An isothermal transformation diagram is determined for decomposition of the γ-phase, and the morphological and kinetic features of the γ → β + δ, γ → α + δ, and γ → α' a transformations are discussed. Quantitative relations between microstructure and continuous cooling rate are developed. It is shown that the rapid kinetics of the γ → α + δ transformation preclude quenching to obtain fully martensitic microstructures in plates thicker than 9 mm (0.35 in.). The presence of small amounts of nonmartensitic microconstituents, however, are shown to have only mildly deleterious effects on mechanical properties and aging response.
Single-Polarization Cladding-Pumped Optical Amplifier Without Polarization-Maintaining Gain Fiber

We demonstrate a single-polarization cladding-pumped Er : Yb optical amplifier using a dual-pass design with a Faraday rotator mirror and nonpolarization-maintaining gain fiber. Over a 25-nm range centered at 1562 nm, the amplifier output exceeds 1 W and maintains a polarization extinction ratio greater than 22 dB. We investigate enhanced relative intensity noise inherent in the dual-pass configuration and discuss scaling to higher powers.
Indentation Fracture Toughness Testing of and Crack Propagation Mode in Dental Composites

The use of a Vicker’s indenter to measure the fracture resistance of dental composite resins was correlated to fracture toughness results obtained by bending of notched bars. There is a fair correlation between the methods, but many dental composites do not form cracks by the indentation technique, thereby limiting its usefulness. SEM micrographs reveal a crack propagation mode which is mostly through the matrix and along the filler/matrix interface, with evidence of particle fracture
Characterization and Application of an Infrared Linear Array Spectrometer for Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy

An infrared spectrometer is described which uses a 32-element InSb linear array detector. The infrared linear array (IRLA) spectrometer collects infrared spectra with a spectral width of 0.50 μm every 16 μs. The performance of the IRLA spectrometer is characterized with respect to signal-to-noise ratio, spectral resolution, time resolution, and instrumental line shape. The IRLA spectrometer is used to collect the time-resolved infrared spectra following 193-nm irradiation of a solution of Mo(CO)6 in hexane.
Hole-mediated stabilization of cubic GaN.

We propose here a new approach to stabilize the cubic zinc-blende (ZB) phase by incorporation of impurities into a compound that has a hexagonal wurtzite (WZ) ground state. For GaN, we suggest that this can be achieved by adding $3d$ acceptors such as Zn, Mn, or Cu because the $p\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}d$ repulsion between the $3d$ impurity levels and the valence band maximum is larger in the ZB phase than in the WZ phase. This makes the top of the valence states of the ZB structure higher than that of the WZ structure. As holes are created at the top of the valence states by the impurities, it will cost less energy for the holes to be created in the ZB structure, thus stabilizing this phase. Our first-principles total energy calculations confirm this novel idea.
A critical realist image of the future Wendell Bell's contribution to the foundations of futures studies

Abstract Wendell Bell's contribution to the foundations of futures studies grows out of his concern that fashionable philosophies of the day could undermine the very idea of a respectable, viable futures studies discipline. As his concept of “image of the future” is an effort to counter the positivist intellectual constraints on futurology, so his support of “critical realism” is part of an effort to counter the equally questionable move towards “the nihilism and relativism of postmodernist post-positivism”. Both theoretically and philosophically, Bell aims to create and keep a balance, a middle ground between extremes, trying to stabilize the still volatile foundations of futures studies. His effort is one of a founder in the most robust sense of the term. In his endeavor, Bell went beyond the rhetoric of asserting the promise of a new discipline and advertising its merits. He invested into the less glamorous but crucial effort of building the epistemological and conceptual bases able to sustain an entire intellectual edifice.
Cues and Components in Multiattribute Evaluation

Abstract Multiattribute additive evaluation models largely ignore the causal structure connecting attributes and overall evaluations. We propose here a distinction between two such causal structures. In "cue-type" tasks, attributes reflect or indicate the value of a distal variable measuring all or part of the entity′s worth. In "component-type" tasks, attributes are themselves the constitutive elements of worth. Attributes of the two kinds should be combined differently. Results are reported from two experiments in which the verbal context was manipulated so as to induce either cue-type or component-type interpretations of identical attribute sets. The data strongly suggest that subjects are sensitive to the distinction and respond in theoretically appropriate ways.
Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia: a new meta-analysis and potential mechanisms

Formaldehyde is an economically important chemical, to which more than 2 million U.S. workers are occupationally exposed. Substantially more people are exposed to formaldehyde environmentally, as it is generated by automobile engines, is a component of tobacco smoke and is released from household products, including furniture, particleboard, plywood, and carpeting. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified formaldehyde as a human carcinogen that causes nasopharyngeal cancer and also concluded that there is "strong but not sufficient evidence for a causal association between leukemia and occupational exposure to formaldehyde". Here, we review the epidemiological studies published to date on formaldehyde-exposed workers and professionals in relation to lymphohematopoietic malignances. In a new meta-analysis of these studies, focusing on occupations known to have high formaldehyde exposure, we show that summary relative risks (RRs) were elevated in 15 studies of leukemia (RR=1.54; confidence interval (CI), 1.18-2.00) with the highest relative risks seen in the six studies of myeloid leukemia (RR=1.90; 95% CI, 1.31-2.76). The biological plausibility of this observed association is discussed and potential mechanisms proposed. We hypothesize that formaldehyde may act on bone marrow directly or, alternatively, may cause leukemia by damaging the hematopoietic stem or early progenitor cells that are located in the circulating blood or nasal passages, which then travel to the bone marrow and become leukemic stem cells. To test these hypotheses, we recommend that future studies apply biomarkers validated for other chemical leukemogens to the study of formaldehyde.
Purification and characterization of CopR, a transcriptional activator protein that binds to a conserved domain (cop box) in copper-inducible promoters of Pseudomonas syringae

The copper resistance (cop) operon promoter (P cop ) of Pseudomonas syringae is copper-inducible, and requires the regulatory genes copRS. Sequence analysis revealed that CopR has significant homology with other known activator proteins from bacterial two-component regulatory systems. In the present study we characterized P cop and its interaction with CopR. We found that crude protein extracts from copper-resistant and-sensitive strains of P. syringae contain a P cop -specific DNA-binding protein. We hypothesized that this DNA-binding protein was the product of copR. A 27-kDa protein, which corresponded to the predicted copR product, was expressed from this gene in Escherichia coli. CopR was purified, and the first eight amino acids were sequenced to confirm its relationship to copR. Specific binding of purified CopR to the plasmid-borne P coP and the chromosomally encoded cop homolog promoter (P copH), identified in this report, was demonstrated using specific and non-specific promoter competitors in DNA mobility shift assays. DNase I footprinting identified a conserved CopR binding region (cop box) on P cop and P copH . The cop box contains an inverted repeat within a stretch of 16 bp, which shares approximately 75% identity with the PhoB binding region from several phosphate regulon gene promoters in E. coli. Primer extension analysis identified the transcriptional initiation site of P cop 59 by 5′ to the translational start site of copA, and the transcriptional initiation site of P copH 88 by 5′ to the translational start site of the chromosomal homolog of copA. The cop box was localized to between positions -54 and -35 relative to the transcriptional initiation site of P cop and P copH . Deletion analysis of P cop delimited copper-inducible activity to a 104-bp region. P cop and P copH do not share a sequence consensus with other characterized promoters from P. syringae or E. coli. The results presented delineate important regions on two copper-inducible promoters from P. syringae.
Score tests for heterogeneity and overdispersion in zero‐inflated Poisson and binomial regression models

Hall (2000) has described zero-inflated Poisson and binomial regression models that include ran- dom effects to account for excess zeros and additional sources of heterogeneity in the data. The authors of the present paper propose a general score test for the null hypothesis that variance components associated with these random effects are zero. For a zero-inflated Poisson model with random intercept, the new test reduces to an alternative to the overdispersion test of Ridout, Dem´ etrio & Hinde (2001). The authors also examine their general test in the special case of the zero-inflated binomial model with random intercept and propose an overdispersion test in that context which is based on a beta-binomial alternative. Tests scores d'h ´ et ´ erog ´ en ´ eit ´ e et de surdispersion dans des mod ` eles de r ´ egression binomiaux et de Poisson avec surplus de z ´ eros
Development of a Downhole Scale Management Philosophy for Water Sensitive Reservoirs

Scale deposition in the near well bore and the production tubing of an oil production well can have a major impact on the productivity of the well. Normally, this problem can be avoided by pumping a concentrated solution of an aqueous scale inhibitor followed by displacement of the inhibitor into the reservoir with sea water. The scale inhibitor is allowed to absorb or precipitate in the reservoir so that when the well is returned to normal flow the scale inhibitor is able to desorb and inhibit scale formation over several months. However, there are many reservoirs that are water sensitive such that if an aqueous scale inhibitor treatment is deployed then severe productivity impairment can occur. This phenomena occurs in Amerada Hess's Scott & Telford fields where core studies have shown that severe productivity impairment would result if a well with a water cut of less than 30% was treated with an aqueous scale inhibitor treatment. This paper describes the development of an effective downhole scale management strategy that allows scale control to be achieved without incurring major loss of productivity. The strategy was achieved by the sequential use of oil soluble scale inhibitors, aqueous inhibitors in conjunction with relative permeability modifying chemicals and micro-encapsulated scale inhibitors. This type of strategy would also he applicable to other fields where a water sensitive reservoir makes downhole scale control problematic.
Mechanism of high field electroluminesence and determination of the space charge limited field in polymeric dielectrics

The mechanism of electroluminescence under inhomogeneous field conditions is investigated, as is the use of electroluminescence for determination of the space charge limited field. The latter investigation indicates that if the volume of polymer within the space charge limited field region is too small, the photon flux can be too low to permit accurate determination of the space charge limited field. Further, no means is available to assure that the photon flux is sufficient to assure accuracy.
Algorithm to optimize the operational spectrum effectiveness (OSE) of wireless communication systems

The advent of technically agile" communication devices, such as software-defined radio (SDR), presents the military services with both a regulatory challenge and a technological opportunity for spectrum sharing. For OSAM, we have proposed a method to transform the technical parameters of a system into a set of nonlinear utility functions, which measure operational spectrum effectiveness (OSE). This paper describes our investigations into appropriate algorithms for optimizing the derived OSE metrics. By adapting equilibrium concepts from microeconomic theory, we demonstrate that, with the spectrum management authority acting as "market arbiter", OSE optimization for individual entities can lead to efficient group-level spectrum utilization solutions. We further contend that the solutions thus obtained will be of at least equal quality to those derived by traditional methods, with the added advantage of near real-time adaptability.
Serum 6‐Beta‐Naltrexol Levels Are Related to Alcohol Responses in Heavy Drinkers

Background: There is strong evidence for the role of the endogenous opioid system in alcohol reinforcement and consumption; however, recent human laboratory studies and clinical trials have reported mixed effects of naltrexone (a nonselective opioid antagonist) on alcohol-related behaviors. This paper reports a secondary data analysis of a human laboratory study that examines the relationship between serum levels of 6-beta-naltrexol, the major, biologically active metabolite of naltrexone, and subjective effects of alcohol. Methods: The study used a within-subjects design to examine the effects of naltrexone (0, 50, and 100 mg/day) on subjective responses to alcohol (none, moderate, and high dose) in heavy drinkers (n= 23). Each subject received three doses of naltrexone in random order; each naltrexone dose was administered over an 8 day period on an inpatient unit, with a 1 week outpatient washout between doses. After stabilization at each of the naltrexone doses, subjects participated in three alcohol challenge sessions (none, moderate, and high dose) in random order; thus, each subject participated in a total of nine alcohol administration sessions. Results: Doubling the naltrexone dose (50 vs. 100 mg/day) doubled the mean serum 6-beta-naltrexol levels. At each naltrexone dose, there was a 4-fold range in 6-beta-naltrexol levels across subjects. Before alcohol administration, higher 6-beta-naltrexol levels were associated with higher ratings of sedation. After high-dose alcohol administration, higher 6-beta-naltrexol levels were associated with significantly lower ratings of liking and best effects. Conclusions: These findings provide further evidence of the involvement of the opioid system in the modulation of alcohol effects and suggest that serum 6-beta-naltrexol concentrations may be important in predicting therapeutic response to naltrexone.
Adaptive dispersal and appetitive flight in the green lacewing, Chrysopa carnea.

. 1 The flight behaviour of Chrysopa cornea Steph. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) with regard to dispersal activity has been investigated in field experiments. There are three main types of flight activities. 2 Shortly after emergence (in the first two nights) the adults perform adaptive dispersal flights which are straight downwind flights mostly at elevations higher than 3 m above ground. The lacewings do not react to the presence of honey dew in the crop. 3 After 2—3 days the scent of honeydew becomes a strong landing stimulus. The flight is now an appetitive downwind flight which usually is lower than 3 m above ground. 4 Once landed, the lacewings' subsequent flights are toward the source of the kairomone which signals honeydew. This can be termed appetitive upwind flight. It is a low stepwise flight within the ‘boundary layer’ which rarely exceeds 1 m above crop level. 5 Dispersal takes place in a continuous ‘rolling’ downwind movement of the whole lacewing population. The immigration rate into a field is thus not a function of the quality of that field but rather of upwind fields. Emigration, however, strongly depends on the presence of honeydew (retaining of ovipositing immigrants) and the density of aphids or other food for the larvae (production of new adults).
A randomized controlled trial on the effects of cycling with and without electrical stimulation on cardiorespiratory and vascular health in children with spinal cord injury.

Johnston TE, Smith BT, Mulcahey MJ, Betz RR, Lauer RT. A randomized controlled trial on the effects of cycling with and without electrical stimulation on cardiorespi- ratory and vascular health in children with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2009;90:1379-88. Objective: To examine the cardiorespiratory/vascular ef- fects of cycling with and without functional electrical stimula- tion (FES) in children with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Pediatric referral hospital. Participants: Children with SCI (N30), ages 5 to 13 years, with injury levels from C4 to T11, and American Spinal Injury Association grades A, B, or C. Interventions: Children were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: FES leg cycling exercise, passive leg cycling, or non- cycling control group receiving electrical stimulation therapy. After receiving instruction on the use of the equipment, chil- dren exercised for 1 hour 3 times per week for 6 months at home with parental supervision. Main Outcome Measures: Oxygen uptake (VO2) during an incremental arm ergometry test, resting heart rate, forced vital capacity, and a fasting lipid profile. Results: There were no differences (P.05) between groups after 6 months of exercise when comparing pre- and postval- ues. However, there were differences between groups for some variables when examining percent change. The FES cycling group showed an improvement (P.035) in VO2 (16.2% 25.0%) as compared with the passive cycling group (-28.7% 29.1%). For lipid levels, the electrical stimulation-only group showed declines (P.032) in cholesterol levels (-17.1% 8.5%) as compared with the FES cycling group (4.4% 20.4%). Conclusions: Cycling with FES led to gains in VO2, whereas electrical stimulation alone led to improvements in cholesterol.
The Journey of Primary Care Practices to Meaningful Use: A Colorado Beacon Consortium Study

Background: The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 provides for incentive payments through Medicare and Medicaid for clinicians who implement electronic health records (EHRs) and use this technology meaningfully to improve patient care. There are few comprehensive descriptions of how primary care practices achieve the meaningful use of clinical data, including the formal stage 1 meaningful use requirements. Methods: Evaluation of the Colorado Beacon Consortium project included iterative qualitative analysis of practice narratives, provider and staff interviews, and separate focus groups with quality improvement (QI) advisors and staff from the regional health information exchange (HIE). Results: Most practices described significant realignment of practice priorities and aims, which often required substantial education and training of physicians and staff. Re-engineering office processes, data collection protocols, EHRs, staff roles, and practice culture comprised the primary effort and commitment to attest to stage 1 meaningful use and subsequent meaningful use of clinical data. While realizing important benefits, practices bore a significant burden in learning the true capabilities of their EHRs with little effective support from vendors. Attestation was an important initial milestone in the process, but practices faced substantial ongoing work to use their data meaningfully for patient care and QI. Key resources were instrumental to these practices: local technical EHR expertise; collaborative learning mechanisms; and regular contact and support from QI advisors. Conclusions: Meeting the stage 1 requirements for incentives under Medicare and Medicaid meaningful use criteria is the first waypoint in a longer journey by primary care practices to the meaningful use of electronic data to continuously improve the care and health of their patients. The intensive re-engineering effort for stage 1 yielded practice changes consistent with larger practice aims and goals. While many of these practices are now poised to use data meaningfully, faster progress will likely come with continued local QI and technical support and planned community-wide learning.
A transport model for water‐soluble constituents of synthetic oil spills in rivers

A numerical model was developed to predict dissolved aqueous concentrations of phenolic contaminants resulting from accidental spillage of a synthetic oil into a river. The model (termed SOPTRAN, for synthetic oil pollutant transport) simultaneously solves algorithms for processes of oil slick spreading, oil evaporation, phenolics dissolution, advection and dispersion using an implicit integrated compartment method. To test SOPTRAN, predictions were compared with measurements of phenolics dissolution into underlying water following application of a coal-liquefaction product to two 3.75 × 3.75 × 1 m ponds. The mean of measured concentrations during phenolics dissolution was 84% (coefficient of variation = 43%) of predicted values. With minimal calibration, SOPTRAN adequately described differential rates of dissolution of phenol and C1- to C4-alkylphenol isomer groups. The model was used to simulate a hypothetical 300-m3 (80,000-gal) accidental release of a coal liquid from a barge into a large navigable river under both instantaneous and noninstantaneous (i.e., leakage) spill scenarios.
MP54-12 DIABETES MELLITUS IS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF CANCER-SPECIFIC MORTALITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA UNDERGOING NEPHRECTOMY

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Body mass index (BMI) is not independently associated with adverse perioperative outcomes following minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN). Several groups, however, have implicated that the distribution of fat (visceral vs. adipose) may serve as a better predictor for surgical outcomes. These data remain conflicting. We investigate the association of 1) perinephric fat thickness and 2) ratio of perinephric to subcutaneous fat thickness on outcomes following MIPN. METHODS: Clinical, radiographic, procedural, and pathologic data were collected for 220 consecutive patients undergoing MIPN by two surgeons via laparoscopic (n1⁄4109) or robotic (n1⁄4111) techniques. Perinephric (PF) and subcutaneous fat (SF) thickness was measured on preoperative axial imaging at the level of the renal vein and umbilicus, respectively. (Figure) The association between PF thickness and PF:SF ratio on surgical outcomes was determined by Spearman correlation and logistic regression. RESULTS: 111 men and 109 women with a median age of 55 years, BMI of 32, tumor size 2.6cm, and RENAL nephrometry score of 6 were included. On preoperative imaging, median PF thickness was 2.2 cm, SF thickness 3.1 cm, and PF:SF ratio of 0.63. Median operative duration was 212 minutes, ischemia duration 22 minutes, EBL 150 cc, and length of stay was 3 days. Seven patients had positive surgical margins, and 58 (26%) had postoperative complications including 10 with Clavien III or higher. There were statistically significant positive correlations between PF thickness (Spearman correlation coefficient 1⁄4 0.26, p 1⁄4 0.001) and PF:SF ratio (Spearman correlation coefficient 1⁄4 0.33, p < 0.0001) with OR duration. Additionally, an increasing PF:SF ratio was associated with a greater risk of perioperative complications (OR 1⁄4 1.82, 95% CI 1.1 3.0, p 1⁄4 0.02). No association was observed with respect to ischemia time, blood loss, length of stay, margin status, or postoperative renal function. CONCLUSIONS: PF thickness is associated with longer OR duration, and a greater PF:SF ratio correlated with increased OR duration and complications following MIPN. These easily measured indices of fat distribution are likely more accurate in predicting perioperative outcomes after MIPN than BMI alone. Source of Funding: None
Coordinate actions of BMPs, Wnts, Shh and noggin mediate patterning of the dorsal somite

Shortly after their formation, somites of vertebrate embryos differentiate along the dorsoventral axis into sclerotome, myotome and dermomyotome. The dermomyotome is then patterned along its mediolateral axis into medial, central and lateral compartments, which contain progenitors of epaxial muscle, dermis and hypaxial muscle, respectively. Here, we used Wnt-11 as a molecular marker for the medial compartment of dermomyotome (the ‘medial lip’) to demonstrate that BMP in the dorsal neural tube indirectly induces formation of the medial lip by up-regulating Wnt-1 and Wnt-3a (but not Wnt-4) expression in the neural tube. Noggin in the dorsal somite may inhibit the direct action of BMP on this tissue. Wnt-11 induction is antagonized by Sonic Hedgehog, secreted by the notochord and the floor plate. Together, our results show that the coordinated actions of the dorsal neural tube (via BMP and Wnts), the ventral neural tube/notochord (via Shh) and the somite itself (via noggin) mediates patterning of the dorsal compartment of the somite.
Hypertensive cardiovascular disease induced by desoxycorticosterone in hypophysectomized rats bearing pituitary autotransplants.

The responsiveness of hypophysectomized female rats bearing pituitary autotransplants to chronic, low dosage treatment with desoxycorticosterone acetate was compared with that of intact females. Intact animals reacted rapidly, developed malignant hypertension, and died within 10 weeks. By contrast hypophysectomized autograft-bearing rats developed hypertension more slowly, and the majority of them were alive at 16 weeks when the experiment was concluded. At autopsy, as compared with intact animals which had died earlier from the sequelae of malignant hypertension, hypophysectomized animals were found to have far more severe periarteritis nodosa, but a lesser development of nephrosclerosis and an extremely low incidence of cardiac damage. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease occurred in these animals despite extreme atrophy of the thyroid and adrenal glands, of the ovaries and uteri, and cessation of somatic growth. Therefore, except for LTH which such autografts are known to elaborate, or trace amounts of the other principals, none of the known regulatory hormones of the anterior pituitary singly or in combination is essential to this effect of DCA.
A novel membrane-bound glucosyltransferase from Bradyrhizobium japonicum.

Bacteria within the family Rhizobiaceae are distinguished by their ability to infect higher plants. The cell envelope carbohydrates of these bacteria are believed to be involved in the plant infection process. One class of cell envelope carbohydrate, the cyclic beta-1,2-glucans, is synthesized by species within two genera of this family, Agrobacterium and Rhizobium. In contrast, species of the genus Bradyrhizobium, a third genus within this family, appear to lack the capacity for cyclic beta-1,2-glucan biosynthesis. Instead, these bacteria synthesize cyclic glucans containing beta-1,6 and beta-1,3 glycosidic linkages (K.J. Miller, R.S. Gore, R. Johnson, A.J. Benesi, and V.N. Reinhold, J. Bacteriol. 172:136-142, 1990). We now report the initial characterization of a novel membrane-bound glucosyltransferase activity from Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110. Analysis of the product of this glucosyltransferase activity revealed the following: the presence of beta-1,3 and beta-1,6 glycosidic linkages, an average molecular weight of 2,100, and no detectable reducing terminal residues. The glucosyltransferase activity was found to have an apparent Km of 50 microM for for UDP-glucose, and activity was stimulated optimally by Mn2+ ions. On the basis of the structural properties of the in vitro glucan product, it is possible that this membrane-bound glucosyltransferase activity may be responsible for the biosynthesis of cyclic beta-1,6-beta-1,3-glucans by this organism.
Mohawk Saint, Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits – Allan Greer

Book reviewed: Mohawk Saint, Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits, Allan Greer, Oxford University Press 2005 (0-19-517487-9), xiv + 249 pp., hb £18.50
Boromalate salts: a new family of solution-grown crystals for nonlinear optical applications for the UV, visible, and near-IR

This paper reports our preliminary results for a new and promising family of solution-grown nonlinear optical (NLO) materials based on salts of the boromalate anion. Crystals of this family which we have characterized include lithium boromalate (LiBC/sub 8/H/sub 8/O/sub 10/), potassium boromalate hydrate (KBC/sub 8/H/sub 8/O/sub 10//spl middot/H/sub 2/O), sodium boromalate (NaBC/sub 8/H/sub 8/O/sub 10/), guanidinium boromalate (CN/sub 3/H/sub 3/BC/sub 8/H/sub 8/O/sub 10/) and ammonium boromalate (NH/sub 4/BC/sub 8/H/sub 8/O/sub 10/). These preliminary results suggest that boromalate-based semiorganic salts show promise as new NLO materials for frequency conversion in the near-IR to near-UV. Because the angular sensitivity appears to be small and relatively constant, the power threshold figure of merit is expected to compare favorably with high temperature melt-grown materials, such as BBO. >
Misrepresentation and stability in the marriage problem

Abstract It has been shown previously that, for two-sided discrete markets of the kind exemplified by the “marriage problem,” no strategy-proof procedure for aggregating preferences into stable outcomes exists. Here it is shown that (Nash) equilibrium misrepresentation of preferences nevertheless results in a stable outcome in terms of the true preferences when the aggregation procedure yields the optimal stable outcome in terms of the stated preferences for one side of the market.
Technique for Optimal Adaptation of Time-Dependent Workflows with Security Constraints

Distributed workflow based systems are widely used in various application domains including e-commerce, digital government, healthcare, manufacturing and many others. Workflows in these application domains are not restricted to the administrative boundaries of a single organization [1]. The tasks in a workflow need to be performed in a certain order and often times are subject to temporal constraints and dependencies [1, 2]. A key requirement for such workflow applications is to provide the right data to the right person at the right time. This requirement motivates for dynamic adaptations of workflows for dealing with changing environmental conditions and exceptions.
Introduction to Ecological Description of a Community Intervention: Building Prevention Through Collaborative Field Based Research

This special issue of the American Journal of Community Psychology is the result of a 18-year partnership with Alaska Native communities using collaborative field based research methods. Its goal is to provide a case study fulfilling the spirit of ecological inquiry, offering a detailed and nuanced description of a community intervention. The articles describe the nature of our work, including some of our successes, as well as challenges, dilemmas, and even disappointments we experienced along the way. Our primary aim was to develop and assess the feasibility of a complex, multi-level intervention to increase protective factors hypothesized to reduce suicide and alcohol abuse among rural Yup'ik Alaska Native youth ages 12-18. The articles that follow include descriptions of the cultural context, relevant literature and project history, our methods of community engagement in measurement development strategies, an empirical test of the prevention model that guided the intervention, the development and implementation of the intervention, a feasibility and impact assessment, and an evaluation of community engagement. A final article summarizes what is generalizable from the work in field based intervention research with rural and culturally distinct populations, and future prospects for decolonizing community intervention research methods. These papers raise important issues, including (1) need for deep, contextual ecological descriptions, (2) reconceptualization of time in the research relationship, (3) distinctions between populations and communities, and (4) the conflict between values of communities and intervention science.
A new Bayesian network approach to solve dynamic fault trees

We explore the usage of Bayesian networks (BNs) for reliability modeling and analysis of dynamic systems. Dynamic system components exhibit complex behaviors and interactions, making combinatorial models inappropriate to solve them. Markov chains, and their extensions, have been widely used to model such systems. However, the infamous state space explosion problem greatly limits their application. We propose a novel reliability modeling and analysis framework based on temporal BNs. Our main concern in this paper is to define a BN-based modeling framework to solve dynamic fault trees and deal with the state space explosion problem encountered in Markov chain-based solutions. In summary, we demonstrate that a BN-based reliability framework, as defined in this work, is a powerful potential solution to address some of the problems existing in current reliability modeling and analysis formalisms. In particular, we show how the framework is capable of modeling and analyzing various kinds of system components' behaviors and dependencies and more importantly how the BN approach can be used as an alternative solution of a dynamic fault tree model without resorting to the Markov chain generation and solution.
Credit Constraints and Investment-Cash Flow Sensitivities

This paper analyzes the investment behavior of firms under a quantity constraint on the amount of external funds which can be raised at a given cost (credit constraints). In this world, investment-cash flow sensitivities decrease in the degree of credit constraints, until a firm becomes effectively unconstrained. This generates a â¬SU-shapedâ¬? curve for the relationship between sensitivities and credit constraints. Froman empirical perspective, the good news is that we suggest a theoretically consistent way to identify the impact of financial constraints on investment behavior, at least under the condition that financial constraints affect primarily the quantity of credit available to firms. The bad news is that our prediction is in a sense the opposite as the one explored in previous empirical literature.
Plasmonics Enhanced Nano Composite PANI-MWNTS /Gold Particles/ Si Solar Cells

We developed an organic-inorganic solar cell configuration based on nanocomposite Polyaniline-Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes /gold particles/ Si, and the PV performance was compared between in presence or absence of plasmonics phenomena by deposing gold nanoparticles on n-type Si and deposited PANI-MWNTs layer on the top of n-type Si substrate. The gold particles deposited by atomic layer deposition on the top of n-Si, significantly increase the voltage and fill factor relative to devices without gold particles. The efficiency and fill factor of the solar cell with gold particles are (0.28%, 0.311) higher than solar cell without using plasmonics phenomena (0.073, 0.275).
Muscle damage, metabolism, and oxidative stress in mdx mice: Impact of aerobic running.

Introduction: We tested how a treadmill exercise program influences oxygen consumption, oxidative stress, and exercise capacity in the mdx mouse, a model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Methods: At age 4 weeks mdx mice were subjected to 4 weeks of twice-weekly treadmill exercise. Sedentary mdx and wild-type mice served as controls. Oxygen consumption, time to exhaustion, oxidative stress, and myofiber damage were assessed. Results: At age 4 weeks, there was a significant difference in exercise capacity between mdx and wild-type mice. After exercise, mdx mice had lower basal oxygen consumption and exercise capacity, but similar maximal oxygen consumption. Skeletal muscle from these mice displayed increased oxidative stress. Collagen deposition was higher in exercised versus sedentary mice. Conclusions: Exercised mdx mice exhibit increased oxidative stress, as well as deficits in exercise capacity, baseline oxygen consumption, and increased myofiber fibrosis. Muscle Nerve 54: 110–117, 2016
Finding the truth in the guidelines and gospels.

that. Clearly, we could never account for the patient’s own personal values and preferences. What guidelines represent, therefore, are a foundation to which a skilled clinician can add the details and nuance that represent the best in ‘‘clinical judgment,’’ and not a substitute for the same. Clinical practice guidelines are a good thing. Those who synthesize them bear a considerable burden to be thorough in their research of the data and balanced in their interpretation. We must be honest and transparent about the strengths and limitations of those data and the recommendations derived from them. At the same time, the consumer bears a responsibility to use them intelligently and with an appreciation for their inherent limitations. Accordingly, the phrase ‘‘the guidelines say’’ should be applied at the beginning, not the end, of the discussion.
Experimental, controversial, and futuristic treatments for chronic tinnitus.

Background: Because chronic tinnitus is a condition that negatively impacts the quality of life of millions of people worldwide, a safe and effective treatment for tinnitus has been sought for millennia. However, effective treatments for tinnitus are greatly outnumbered by ineffective strategies, medications, devices, and surgeries that continue to be developed and promoted for the condition. Purpose: This article describes and critiques experimental, controversial, and potential treatments for chronic tinnitus. The purpose of this review is to provide information that should help patients and clinicians to select tinnitus treatment and management strategies most likely to be effective for each set of symptoms and circumstances. Research Design: PubMed and MEDLINE databases (National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine) were searched for the term tinnitus in articles published from 1940 to 2012. Other historical documents and publications were also reviewed as needed for particular topics. Study Sample: Studies included in this review were selected to represent a sampling of treatment methodologies that have been used for tinnitus. Data Collection and Analysis: Due to the heterogeneity of the studies reviewed, it was not appropriate to perform a meta-analysis. A selective review of the literature was conducted to summarize and critique published research results. Results: Most invasive treatments for tinnitus should be avoided because (1) at best, there is scant evidence that any of these treatments is effective, and (2) the risk to patients for most invasive procedures is much greater than the risk posed by the tinnitus perception. Effective and noninvasive treatments for tinnitus include acoustic therapy (which includes hearing aids and other types of environmental sound enrichment); cognitive-behavioral therapy; psychological counseling; hypnosis; biofeedback; and relaxation training. Over-the-counter or prescription medications may be used as needed to facilitate sleep and to reduce anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsiveness. Conclusions: Patients and clinicians should be especially cautious when considering invasive (and potentially harmful) treatments for tinnitus, which is a non-life-threatening symptom. Unless well-designed clinical trials verify that a tinnitus therapy demonstrates effectiveness above and beyond the placebo effect, consumers should be wary of medications, devices, or procedures promoted as a “cure.” Although a true cure for tinnitus has not yet been found, effective and noninvasive tinnitus management strategies are available now. If progress is made to medically (or genetically) treat sensorineural hearing loss in humans, this breakthrough should also help to simultaneously reduce the perception of tinnitus for many patients.
Impact of laboratory cost display on resident attitudes and knowledge about costs

Aim Cost awareness has been proposed as a strategy for curbing the continued rise of healthcare costs. However, most physicians are unaware of the cost of diagnostic tests, and interventions have had mixed results. We sought to assess resident physician cost awareness following sustained visual display of costs into electronic health record (EHR) order entry screens. Study Design We completed a preintervention and postintervention web-based survey. Participants were physicians in internal medicine, paediatrics, combined medicine and paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, emergency medicine, and orthopaedic surgery at one tertiary co are academic medical centre. Costs were displayed in the EHR for 1032 unique laboratory orders. We measured attitudes towards costs and estimates of Medicare reimbursement rates for 11 common laboratory and imaging tests. Results We received 209 survey responses during the preintervention period (response rate 71.1%) and 194 responses during the postintervention period (response rate 66.0%). The proportion of residents that agreed/strongly agreed that they knew the costs of tests they ordered increased after the cost display (8.6% vs 38.2%; p Conclusions Resident cost awareness and ability to accurately estimate laboratory order costs improved significantly after implementation of a comprehensive EHR cost display for all laboratory orders. The improvement in cost estimation accuracy for imaging orders, which did not have costs displayed, suggested a possible spillover effect generated by providing a cost context for residents.
Robust and Efficient Fitting of Loss Models: Diagnostic Tools and Insights

We consider robust and efficient fitting of claim severity models whose parameters are estimated using the method of trimmed moments, which was recently introduced by Brazauskas, Jones, and Zitikis (2009). In this article, we take the ‘next’ step by going beyond the theory and simulations, and address some important issues that arise in practical application of the method. Specifically, we introduce two graphical diagnostic tools that can be used to choose the trimming proportions, and hence help one to decide on the appropriate trade-off between robustness and efficiency. What is equally important, such tools are useful in model selection, for assessing the overall goodness of model fit, and for identification of outliers. Some insights about the choice between a ‘good’ fit and an ‘even better’ fit and its impact on risk evaluations are provided. Data analysis and illustrations are performed using real data which represents the total damage done by 827 fires in Norway for the year 1988.
Abstract A61: 14-3-3gamma transforming ability is determined by a motif outside the conserved phosphoamio-acid binding domain

The 14-3-3 proteins are a set of seven highly conserved scaffolding proteins that have been implicated as having a role in human tumorigenesis. However, despite the striking similarity of amino acid sequences and structures of the eukaryotic 14-3-3 family of proteins, there is increasing evidence that the seven human isoforms manifest disparate functions. For instance 14-3-3gamma functions as an oncogene and 14-3-3sigma acts as a tumor suppressor. To gain insight into how specific functions are manifested we constructed chimeric proteins by swaping various regions between gamma and sigma. Chimeric proteins were then utilized in NIH3T3 cell transformation assays. We found that transforming ability was associated with a small variable 40 amino acid region in the N-terminus of the gamma protein and that the transforming ability of gamma was dominant to the tumor suppressor activity of sigma. Importantly, the transforming motif was located outside the conserved 14-3-3 phosphoamino acid binding motif. Hence, transforming ability of 14-3-3 proteins is determined by a variable region that does not involve the phosphoamino acid binding site. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr A61.
The role of PAs in the future health workforce.

As health care provider shortages appear on the horizon, questions persist as to how the PA profession fits into the future health care workforce. Four workforce-related presentations given at the October 2006 Physician Assistant Education Association Education Forum in Quebec City, Quebec, addresse