cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive and qualitative changes in encoding strategy with experience: evidence from the test-expectancy paradigm.

Three experiments demonstrated learners’ abilities to adaptively and qualitatively accommodate their encoding strategies to the demands of an upcoming test. Stimuli were word pairs. In Experiment 1, test expectancy was induced for either cued recall (of targets given cues) or free recall (of targets only) across 4 study–test cycles of the same test format, followed by a final critical cycle featuring either the expected or the unexpected test format. For final tests of both cued and free recall, participants who had expected that test format outperformed those who had not. This disordinal interaction, supported by recognition and self-report data, demonstrated not mere differences in effort based on anticipated test difficulty, but rather qualitative and appropriate differences in encoding strategies based on expected task demands. Participants also came to appropriately modulate metacognitive monitoring (Experiment 2) and studytime allocation (Experiment 3) across study–test cycles. Item and associative recognition performance, as well as self-report data, revealed shifts in encoding strategies across trials; these results were used to characterize and evaluate the different strategies that participants employed for cued versus free recall and to assess the optimality of participants’ metacognitive control of encoding strategies. Taken together, these data illustrate a sophisticated form of metacognitive control, in which learners qualitatively shift encoding strategies to match the demands of anticipated tests.
Hydrothermal crystal growth of yttrium and rare earth stabilized hafnia

Single crystals of hafnia stabilized with yttrium, neodymium, holmium and erbium 0.25 mm in size were formed in hydrothermal solutions by spontaneous nucleation in 20 M KOH at 750 °C. Positive transport conditions were established at 650 °C using a single crystal of cubic zirconia as a substrate for growth of yttrium stabilized hafnia at a rate of 0.084 mm/week. During the study single crystals could only be formed with high concentrations of the stabilizer dopants by this method. This is the lowest synthesis temperature reported for any single crystal growth method of this refractory material.
VIZMO Game Browser: Accessing Video Games by Visual Style and Mood

Despite the growing interests in video games as consumer products as well as objects of research, current methods for accessing video games are limited. We present Vizmo as a new way of browsing video games based on their visual style and mood. In order to test the usability and usefulness of Vizmo, we asked 19 video game experts to evaluate their interaction with the tool. The results show that experts perceived Vizmo as a novel and aesthetically pleasing game discovery tool which would be most useful for game research on historical and aesthetic aspects. We discuss five key points for improving the design of Vizmo as well as our future plan for the next iteration of this prototype game browser.
Molecular information structures in the brain.

This paper presents a theory of memory and memory mediated learning based on the manipulation of macromolecular conformations. The main features of the theory are: (1) the brain contains primary and reference neurons; (2) inputs from the external environment produce particular patterns of primary firing; (3) the firing of a primary neuron sensitizes certain of its dendrites; (4) the sensitized primaries are loaded by the reference neuron active at the time and in such a way that they fire when called by this reference neuron, thus reconstructing the original pattern of primary activity. The reference neurons may also be loaded by primaries, thus making it possible for the reconstruction process to be initiated by some feature of the initial input. Each reference neuron loads and calls at most one primary pattern of activity, thereby preventing superposition of memories. If the primaries are loadable by sequences of impulses, this makes it possible to increase the connectivity among the various types of neurons by using party-line organization. The loading and calling processes themselves are mediated by call molecules. These are allosteric enzymes, located in the dendrites of primary and reference neurons, whose states are set either by an impulse or sequence of impulses and which catalyze events leading to impulse formation whenever this input recurs. The call molecules are capable of duplicating their setting (or conformation) using either intra- or interneuronal potentials, thereby ensuring stability of the memory trace. The theory allows for general powers of memory manipulation (by rememorization), for the construction of time ordered, content ordered, and associative data structures, and for computation with global representations of the environment. It makes a large number of testable predictions, provides a natural interpretation for the structure of the cerebral cortex, and accounts for: resistance to cooling, differential effects of chemical agents on short and long term memory, distributed character of memory, accessibility of memories by stimulation of specific brain loci, and also the details of classical conditioning and instrumental learning.
Coccolithophorid production and sedimentation, Rockall Bank

Abstract Surface waters on Rockall Bank (350 km west of Scotland) during the early summer of 1978 contained concentrations of the coccolithophorid Coccolithus pelagicus (Wallich) (in the palmelloid stage) locally in excess of 10 6 coccospheres per liter of water. These values, 1 to 3 orders of magnitude greater than normally expected in the open North Atlantic, reflect the effects of upwelling on the shallower portions of the bank. While high concentrations of coccospheres were restricted to surface waters, near-bottom waters contained abundant coccoliths ( Emiliania huxleyi ) (Kamptner) and diatoms, suggesting disaggregation of earlier blooms or resuspension of bottom material, or both. The matrix of sea-floor sediments on the bank becomes increasingly dominated by coccoliths in the deeper parts of the bank. Presumably the decreased effects of winnowing offsets the decreased biologic productivity in off-bank waters, resulting in greater retention of coccoliths in deeper water sediments on Rockall Bank.
Identifying Reading Disabilities by Responsiveness-to-instruction: Specifying Measures and Criteria.

First, we describe two types of assessment (problem solving and standard treatment protocol) within a "responsive- ness-to-instruction" framework to identify learning disabilities. We then specify two necessary components (measures and classi- fication criteria) to assess responsiveness-to-instruction, and pres- ent pertinent findings from two related studies. These studies involve databases at grades 1 and 2, which were analyzed to com- pare the soundness of alternative methods of assessing instruc- tional responsiveness to identify reading disabilities. Finally, conclusions are drawn and future research is outlined to pros- pectively and longitudinally explore classification issues that emerged from our analyses.
Neurons with different temporal firing patterns in the inferior colliculus of the little brown bat differentially process sinusoidal amplitude-modulated signals.

We examined how well single neurons in the inferior colliculus (IC) of an FM bat (Myotis lucifugus) processed simple tone bursts of different duration and sinusoidal amplitude-modulated (SAM) signals that approximated passively heard natural sounds. Units' responses to SAM tones, measured in terms of average spike count and firing synchrony to the modulation envelope, were plotted as a function of the modulation frequency to construct their modulation transfer functions. These functions were classified according to their shape (e.g., band-, low-, high-, and all-pass). IC neurons having different temporal firing patterns to simple tone bursts (tonic, chopper, onset-late, and onset-immediate) exhibited different selectivities for SAM signals. All tonic and 83% of chopper neurons responded robustly to SAM signals and displayed a variety of spike count-based response functions. These neurons showed a decreased level of time-locking as the modulation frequency was increased, and thereby gave low-pass synchronization-based response functions. In contrast, 64% of onset-immediate, 37% of onset-late and 17% of chopper units failed to respond to SAM signals at any modulation frequency tested (5–800 Hz). Those onset neurons that did respond to SAM showed poor time-locking (i.e., non-significant levels of synchronization). We obtained evidence that the poor SAM response of some onset and chopper neurons was due to a preference for short-duration signals. These data suggest that tonic and most chopper neurons are better-suited for the processing of long-duration SAM signals related to passive hearing, whereas onset neurons are better-suited for the processing of short, pulsatile signals such as those used in echolocation.
The charge of blasphemy in mark 14.64

The teaching of m. Sanh. 7.5, that the ‘blasphemer’ is not culpable unless he pronounces the Name itself, is attested by Josephus and the Community Rule from Qumran. The Markan Jesus, however, does not pronounce the divine name. Philo provides evidence for a broader understanding of blasphemy, namely, claims to be divine or to possess divine power. The relevant passages are analogous to the Markan Jesus’ claims that he would be enthroned at the right hand of God and that he would ‘come with the clouds of heaven’. Both claims imply divine status, authority and power. The chief priests, as Sadducees, probably subscribed to a definition of blasphemy like that of Philo. Like other Jews of the time, they advocated the death penalty for blasphemy, but were more likely to carry it out. Mark did not wish to deny that Jesus blasphemed from the point of view of the chief priests. The narrative is ironic in the sense that what is blasphemy from the point of view of the council is true from the perspective of the imp...
Rheopexy in Dilute Polymer Solutions at Low Shear Gradients

ONE of us has pointed out that theoretical consideration of the hydrodynamic interaction of a very long flexible chain in laminar flow suggests that under certain conditions an increase in the viscosity of a polymer solution may occur with increase in the shear gradient1. Such rheopexy should be favoured with a solution of a linear polymer of very high molecular weight in an extremely viscous solvent, otherwise the theory predicts only a decrease in solution viscosity with increasing gradient such as has been reported experimentally in numerous instances. Generally, examples of rheopexy reported for polymer solutions occur at high gradients and reasonably have been attributed to the onset of turbulent flow, but this would not provide a likely explanation of an increase in viscosity reported by Selby and Hunstad which begins at only about 100 sec−1. The latter results are consistent with the theory mentioned here inasmuch as the system studied was a polymethylmethacrylate of high molecular weight (∼ 106) dissolved in a mineral oil with a viscosity of several hundred poise but are not directly apposite because of the large concentration of polymer (3 per cent)2. A direct test of the theory has been undertaken by Wolff, who reported viscosity data extrapolated to infinite dilution for solutions of polystyrene (M up to 107) in a chlorinated diphenyl (η ∼ 1 poise), with the conclusion that no increase in viscosity occurred3. The present communication reports further preliminary experiments designed to test the theory.
Centers of alternative rings

Abstract It is shown that I. P. Shestakov's identity, [(x, y, z)4, r] = 0 in an alternative algebra, holds in any alternative ring. Specifically, characteristic not 2 does not have to be assumed. It follows that [(x, y, z)4, r] is not an element in the free alternative ring whose additive order is a positive power of two.
Recovery and nonmonotone masking effects

Abstract Recovery was produced by a homogeneous flash of light (M 2 ). With M 2 absent, correct letter report was a U-shaped curve when plotted against the interval separating the onset of a letter target and the onset of a patterned masking stimulus (M 1 . With the homogeneous flash of light added to the stimulus sequence (target + M 1 + M 2 ), recovery occurred for all but the shortest delays between the onsets of target and M 1 . Recovery peaked at a constant separation between the onsets of the target and M 2 , regardless of the separation between the onsets of the target and M 1 . Current explanations of recovery cannot account for this result.
A dual chamber vacuum cryostat for germanium lithium drifted diodes

Abstract A dual chamber cryostat is described which has a permanent charge of cryosorption material that can be isolated from the diode chamber when it is opened to air.
Thermodynamic and structural study of coordination of the monodentate ligand ammonia in a square-planar nickel(II) complex with a tridentate amine

Abstract The octahedral nickel(II) complex of the tridentate ligand dachen ( N -(2-aminoethyl)-1,4-diazacycloheptane), Ni(dachen)(H 2 O) 3 ] 2+ , reacts with ammonia to yield the square-planar complex [Ni(dachen)(NH 3 )] 2+ , a rare example of coordination of the monodentate ammine ligand in a low-spin nickel(Il) complex. The structure of Ni(dachen)(NH 3 )](ClO 4 ) 2 was determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: orthorhombic space group Pbca , a = 13.402(3), b = 13.625(4), c = 17.118(4) A, V = 3125.8(16) A 3 , Z =8. The structure was solved by direct methods and was refined to R = 0.053. The stability constant of [Ni(dachen)(NH 3 )] 2+ was determined by a spectrophotometric method. The log K value for addition of ammonia to [Ni(dachen)(H 2 O) 3 ] 2+ to form square-planar Ni(dachen)(NH 3 )] 2+ was found to be 3.3 ±0.1, an estimated 1.6 log units greater than for binding of ammonia in an analogous high-spin nickel(Il) complex.
Embedded electrode electro-optic composite materials

We explore new concepts for electro-optic (EO) modulator designs based on local-field enhancement and electrodes in close proximity for improving the performance of nonlinear materials. Using nanopatterned metals or conductive materials for electrodes and plasmonic elements we show that the effective nonlinearity can be enhanced and concurrently the driving voltage reduced for electro-optic active materials. We especially devote our attention on EO modulator applications using polymers doped with active chromophores. Our substrate materials are mesoscopically patterned using focused ion beam milling. The critical dimensions of the features are smaller than a wavelength. The effective medium theory is used to analyze the results.
Twelve years of tracking 52-Hz whale calls from a unique source in the North Pacific

Abstract A unique whale call with 50–52 Hz emphasis from a single source has been tracked over 12 years in the central and eastern North Pacific. These calls, referred to as 52-Hz calls, were monitored and analyzed from acoustic data recorded by hydrophones of the US Navy Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) and other arrays. The calls were noticed first in 1989, and have been detected and tracked since 1992. No other calls with similar characteristics have been identified in the acoustic data from any hydrophone system in the North Pacific basin. Only one series of these 52-Hz calls has been recorded at a time, with no call overlap, suggesting that a single whale produced the calls. The calls were recorded from August to February with most in December and January. The species producing these calls is unknown. The tracks of the 52-Hz whale were different each year, and varied in length from 708 to 11,062 km with travel speeds ranging from 0.7 to 3.8 km/h. Tracks included (A) meandering over short ranges, (B) predominantly west-to-east movement, and (C) mostly north-to-south travel. These tracks consistently appeared to be unrelated to the presence or movement of other whale species (blue, fin and humpback) monitored year-round with the same hydrophones.
A Symmetry POGIL Activity for Inorganic Chemistry

The goal of this project was to create an inquiry activity to teach symmetry elements and symmetry operations in an inorganic chemistry course. Many students experience difficulty when building and mentally manipulating three-dimensional mental models from two-dimensional images, causing difficulty when learning symmetry. Process-oriented, guided-inquiry learning (POGIL) was used to structure the activity using a learning cycle paradigm consistent with research on how students learn as described by Novak's human constructivism theory. The activity familiarized students with symmetry terms as students actively engaged in finding symmetry operations in a variety of molecules. The symmetry activity was classroom tested and student and POGIL expert feedback were used to improve the activity.
Management mistakes in healthcare: a disturbing silence.

The belated but formal acknowledgment of medical errors and their impact has been well documented. Curiously, the topic of management or executive mistakes in healthcare is not raised in professional meetings nor, until recently, addressed by an article in health administration journals.
Interviewing Job Applicants—: How to Get beyond First Impressions

The basic interview, where the hiring manager or recruiter asks questions about qualifications and attempts to get a "feel" for the candidate, is vulnerable to many kinds of error and bias, and, as...
Moment tensors of acoustic emissions in shear faulting under plane-strain compression

Abstract The study of localized failure under controlled conditions can be accomplished within a laboratory setting with the University of Minnesota plane-strain compression apparatus. The device provides an opportunity to observe shear faulting and to compare displacements from acoustic emission (AE) sources with global measurements. A biaxial compression test on a sandstone specimen was performed with monitoring of AE. The plane-strain test showed that the shear fault was not formed until after peak load. Compaction of the shear fault was observed from the axial and lateral measurements of displacement and the orientation of the failure plane. The AE events were modeled as displacement discontinuities. The complicated deconvolution process for the transducer transfer function was eliminated by using a simplified calibration procedure. The sources of the postpeak events were characterized as being caused predominantly by slip in the direction of the global failure plane, although components of displacement associated with closing were identified. To provide an order of magnitude estimate of the slip, the field observation of a 10−4 strain drop over the seismic area was assumed. The tangential displacement from 110 AE events was estimated to be 0.01 mm. During the same period of time, the displacement along the shear fault from global measurements was 0.03 mm.
Reductive silylation of chloroprene

Copolymers made up of 1,4-(2-trimethylsilyl-1,3-butadiene) (I) and 1,4-(2-chloro-1,3-butadiene) (II) units have been prepared by reaction of chloroprene with trimethylchlorosilane and sodium dispersion in THF. The ratio of I∶II units in the copolymers have been determined by IR,1H NMR and elemental analysis. The E∶Z ratio of these units has been determined by1H NMR.13C and29Si NMR of these copolymers is discussed.
Ultraviolet reflectance and absorption patterns in flowers of Nymphaea alba L., Nymphaea candida presl and Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm. (Nymphaeaceae)

Abstract Ultraviolet (u.v.) patterns of flowers of Nymphaeaceae as an important colour component for flower-visiting insects have been totally neglected in studies of their floral biology. The three day-flowering species studied show distinct u.v. patterns. Both Nymphaea species show hogh absorption in the centre of the flowers and u.v.-reflective thecae. In Nymphaea alba L. a radial u.v. stripe reflection pattern is visible on the stigmatic disc in u.v. photographs, which is weakly developed in Nymphaea candida Presl flowers. The flowers of Nuphar show the most distinct u.v. reflection pattern in the form of a circle formed by the u.v.-reflective tips and filaments of the stamens, in contrast to the shiny petals and u.v.-absorptive stigmatic disc, thecae and sepals.
Thioredoxin-dependent redox regulation of cellular signaling and stress response through reversible oxidation of methionines.

The sensitive oxidations of sulfur containing amino acids (i.e., cysteines and methionines) commonly control protein function, and act as important signaling mechanisms to modify metabolic responses to environmental stressors. Mechanisms associated with cysteine oxidation to form sulfenic acid and disulfides (i.e., cystine and glutathione adducts), and their reversibility through thioredoxin-dependent mechanisms, are broadly appreciated as important regulatory mechanisms that control the function of a range of different proteins. Less commonly understood are the cellular consequences of methionine oxidation to form methionine sulfoxide, as the structural requirements for their thioredoxin-dependent reduction by methionine sulfoxide reductases limit the reversibility of methionine oxidation to sequences within surface exposed and conformationally disordered regions of proteins. Surface exposed methionines are commonly involved in molecular recognition between transient protein signaling complexes, where their oxidation disrupts productive protein–protein interactions linked to a range of cellular responses. Such a signaling protein is calmodulin, which represents an early and central point in calcium signaling pathways important to stress responses in plants. We describe recent work elucidating fundamental mechanisms of reversible methionine oxidation within calmodulin, including the physical basis for differences in the sensitivity of individual methionines within plant and animal calmodulin to reactive oxygen species (ROS), the structural and functional consequences of their oxidation, and the interactions of oxidized calmodulin with methionine sulfoxide reductase enzymes. It is suggested that, in combination with high-throughput proteomic methods and current generation informatics tools, these mechanistic insights permit useful predictions of oxidatively sensitive signaling proteins that act as redox and stress sensors in response tomethionine oxidation.
The Effects of Choice on Intrinsic Motivation and Related Outcomes : A Meta-Analysis of Research Findings

A meta-analysis of 41 studies examined the effect of choice on intrinsic motivation and related outcomes in a variety of settings with both child and adult samples. Results indicated that providing choice enhanced intrinsic motivation, effort, task performance, and perceived competence, among other outcomes. Moderator tests revealed the effect of choice on intrinsic motivation was stronger (a) for instructionally irrelevant choices compared to choices made between activities, versions of a task, rewards, and instructionally relevant options, (b) when 2 to 4 successive choices were given, (c) when rewards were not given after the choice manipulation, (d) when participants given choice were compared to the most controlling forms of control groups, (e) for children compared to adults, (f) for designs that yoked choice and control conditions compared to matched designs in which choice was reduced or designs in which nonyoked, nonmatched controls were used, and (g) when the experiment was conducted in a laboratory embedded in a natural setting. Implications for future research and applications to real-world settings are discussed.
Efficiency v. Structure-Conduct-Performance: Implications for Strategy Research and Practice

The strategic management field has derived many of its theoretical concepts from other social science disciplines including economics, psychology, and sociology. Industrial organization (IO) economics and the structure-conduct-performance paradigm, in particular, provided many of the building blocks upon which strategy formulation was constructed (Barney, 1986; Harrigan, 1981; Porter, 1981). However, some researchers are now questioning this transfer of theory from IO economics to Strategic Management (Barney, 1986; Conner, 1991; Hirsch & Friedman, 1986; Rumelt, 1984).
NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF HYDROGEN PLUME FLOWS USING UNSTRUCTURED GRIDS

A code for solving the Navier-Stokes equations is developed and applied to the study of lowdensity hydrogen plumes exhausting from a small converging-diverging nozzle into finite ambient pressures. The code is validated by comparing with experimental measurements and results from other numerical simulations. Detailed comparisons are made between results obtained using the continuum approach (CFD) and results obtained from a particle based (DSMC) code. Both methods are found to be in good agreement. The extent of validity of the continuum approach is investigated by comparing results obtained for several cases involving very low back pressures with results obtained from DSMC simulations.
What I Want to Know about Negotiations

Examining information requirements according to the negotiation categories of structure, strategy, procedure, outcome and behavior, this article calls for data on action types, results, and sources; on determinants of target susceptibilities to action types; on blockage and its costs; on issues under consideration, changing proposals and parties' changing positions on issues; on parties' perceived payoffs, and evaluations of win, loss and deadlock; on parties' evaluation of their security points, and efforts to alter security points; on potential tradeoffs; and on available and evolving conceptions of justice.
Bureaucracyand Public Life The Femininization of the Polity

One of the most fundamental changes occurring in American political, social, and economic life over the last century has been the marked increase in the bureaucratization of both work and politics. The expanding bureaucratization of the polity carries with it severe consequences for meaningful citizen participation in public life for both women and men, and these consequences are directly relevant to current feminist concerns. Modern bureaucracies are organizations designed to seek certainty in both their internal structure and their environment. The bureaucracy controls the information needed to mount an attack upon it; the information is frequently complex, written in a secret language, and passed through channels not visible to the public. Clients must learn a new language in order to comprehend the maze of bureaucratic regulations confronting them. The clients of bureaucracy are rendered dependent and controlled because the only posture permissible toward bureaucracy is dependency.
Enforcement of the USA Patriot Act's anti-money laundering provisions: Have regulators followed a risk-based approach?

Abstract In this paper, we test whether or not banking regulators have followed a risk-based approach in the enforcement of the USA Patriot Act's anti-money laundering (AML) provisions. In order to do so, we compare the financial performances of banking institutions operating branches inside and outside the boundaries of counties in the State of California designated as “high-risk money laundering and related financial crime areas”. Our results indicate that regulatory enforcement under the Patriot Act cannot be explained on the basis of financial institutions’ relative risks of being targeted by money launderers.
Professional Decision Modeling: Practitioner as Professor

I teach a short elective course on decision science to 40 percent of the second-year class in Dartmouths MBA program. Students use MS/OR to clarify the value of an industrial asset in a spin-off negotiation. Students design, build, and refine spreadsheet models incrementally. I introduce techniques to support each weeks case challenges. The decision context evolves with new information and unexpected demands. My teaching success depends on quick, detailed feedback and effectively guiding students with varying proficiency. My hybrid role as practitioner-professor developed over several years. I encourage practitioners and full-time faculty to collaborate on similar courses or segments of longer courses.
Amphiphilic networks. VII. Synthesis and characterization of pH-sensitive poly(sulfoethyl methacrylate)-1-polyisobutylene networks†

A series of environmentally sensitive amphiphilic networks consisting of 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate (SEMA) chains linked by methacrylate-ditelechelic polyisobutylene (MA–PIB–MA) chains have been prepared and characterized. Network composition was determined after sequential solvent extraction by elemental analysis. These networks are two-phase microheterogeneous systems containing hydrophobic rubbery PIB domains (Tg ∼ −60°C) and hydrophilic poly(2-sulfoethyl methacrylate) domains (Tg ∼ −15°C). They exhibit large contact-angle hysteresis in water which is due to surface segmental mobility and microheterogeneity. By increasing the SEMA content of the networks the contact-angle hysteresis increases. This phenomenon is due to an increase in the advancing contact angle most likely caused by the migration of the nonpolar PIB domains toward the surface and concomitant decrease of the receding contact angle. These amphiphilic networks exhibit non-Fickian swelling in n-heptane, as well as in water, and show pH-sensitive swelling in aqueous media. They rapidly and reversibly swell and deswell in response to increasing or decreasing the pH of the media (cycling between pH = 2 and 12). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Nosocomial Infection Rates at an Oncology Center

Nosocomial infection rates were computed for 5,031 patients at an oncology center during a 20-month period. Twelve percent of the patients developed nosocomial infections, accounting for a total of 802 infections. The overall incidence of nosocomial infections during this study period was 6.27 infections per 1,000 patient days. The highest incidence of nosocomial infections was found in patients having acute myelogenous leukemia (30.49 infections per 1,000 patient days); bone and joint cancer (27.27 infections per 1,000 patient days); and liver cancer (26.58 infections per 1,000 patient days). The respiratory tract was the most common site of infection, followed by bloodstream, surgical wound, and urinary tract infections. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and coagulase-negative staphylococci were most frequently implicated as pathogens. The distribution of specific types of infection according to underlying malignancy was also tabulated. These data provide nosocomial infection rates, common pathogens, and sites of infection for cancer patients, thus assisting in directing appropriate therapy for these patients.
Technology variability from a design perspective

Increased variability in semiconductor process technology and devices requires added margins in the design to guarantee the desired yield. Variability is characterized with respect to the distribution of its components, its spatial and temporal characteristics and its impact on specific circuit topologies. Approaches to variability characterization and modeling for digital logic and SRAM are reviewed in this paper. Transistor and ring oscillator arrays are designed to isolate specific systematic and random variability components in the design. Distributions of SRAM design margins are measured by padded-out cells and minimum operating voltages for the entire array. Correlations between various components of variability are essential for adding appropriate margins to the design.
A comparison of the 2008?2009 post-MINER Act safety performance of union and non-union underground coal mines

This study analyses the comparative safety performance between union and non-union mines for the period 2008?2009, following the 2006 MINER Act. Significant findings indicate that the Severity Measure for union mines was 54.9% and 32.1% higher than for non-union mines in 2008 and 2009, respectively; union mines had a lower no-days-lost incidence rate; and the non-fatal days-lost incidence rate for non-union mines was 8.5% and 20.5% lower than for union mines in 2008 and 2009. Union mines had higher fatality-disability (62.2% higher) and serious injury (43.3%) rates. Confounding variable effects on fatality and injury rates were examined for impact.
Imaging Cells in the Developing Nervous System with Retrovirus Expressing Modified Green Fluorescent Protein

To visualize the movements of cells and their processes in developing vertebrates, we constructed replication-incompetent retroviral vectors encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) that can be detected as a single integrated copy per cell. To optimize GFP expression, the CMV enhancer and avian β-actin promoter were incorporated within a retrovirus construct to drive transcription of redshifted (F64L, S65T) and codon-modified GFP (EGFP), EGFP tagged with GAP-43 sequences targeting the GFP to the cell membrane, or EGFP with additional mutations that increase its ability to fold properly at 37°C (S147P or V163A, S175G). We have used these viruses to efficiently mark and follow the developmental progression of a large population of cells in rat neocortex and whole avian embryos. In the chick embryo, the migration and development of GFP-marked neural crest cells were monitored using time-lapse videomicroscopy. In the neocortex, GFP clearly delineates the morphology of a variety of neuronal and glial phenotypes. Cells expressing GFP display normal dendritic morphologies, and infected cells persist into adulthood. Cortical neurons appear to form normal local axonal and long-distance projections, suggesting that the presence of cytoplasmic or GAP-43-tagged GFP does not significantly interfere with normal development.
Electron flow through biological molecules: does hole hopping protect proteins from oxidative damage?

Biological electron transfers often occur between metal-containing cofactors that are separated by very large molecular distances. Employing photosensitizer-modified iron and copper proteins, we have shown that single-step electron tunneling can occur on nanosecond to microsecond timescales at distances between 15 and 20 A. We also have shown that charge transport can occur over even longer distances by hole hopping (multistep tunneling) through intervening tyrosines and tryptophans. In this perspective, we advance the hypothesis that such hole hopping through Tyr/Trp chains could protect oxygenase, dioxygenase, and peroxidase enzymes from oxidative damage. In support of this view, by examining the structures of P450 (CYP102A) and 2OG-Fe (TauD) enzymes, we have identified candidate Tyr/Trp chains that could transfer holes from uncoupled high-potential intermediates to reductants in contact with protein surface sites.
Facial Wound Management

This article presents an overview of facial wound management, beginning with a brief review of basic anatomy of the head and face as it relates to wound care. Basic wound management is discussed, and techniques for repairing specific cosmetically high-risk areas of the face, particularly the eyes, lips, and ears, are reviewed. Also described are the proper techniques for the management of an auricular hematoma.
Genomics of enterobacteriaceae

Enterobacteria were among the earliest targets for genome sequencing and are still the most densely sampled clade of bacteria in the genomics arena. Twenty complete genome sequences are available for members of the family as of September 2004, and the NCBI list of genomes in progress includes another 20 enterobacteria. This is undoubtedly an underestimate of the sequences that will be available for enterobacteria in the coming two years. Among the complete genomes are representatives of nine genera, including Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella, Yersinia, Erwinia, Buchnera, Photorhabdus, Wigglesworthia, and Candidatus Blochmannia. Genomes in progress will add additional strains and species of these, as well as additional genera such as Klebsiella, Proteus, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Dickeya, and Pantoea. Among these are standard laboratory research strains, human pathogens, livestock pathogens, plant pathogens, and insect endosymbionts. Each genome sequence aids in understanding the biology of the individual organism, but some of the greatest insights come from comparisons between the genomes. For many of these genera, sequences are available for multiple species or strains, providing unique perspectives on genome-wide polymorphism. Enterobacteria are also very experimentally tractable, and we are beginning to see a boom in downstream research making use of the sequences. Keywords: genomes; enterobacteria; E. coli, pathogens; endosymbionts; comparative genomics; horizontal transfer; rearrangement; evolution
3'-end formation of baculovirus late RNAs

Baculovirus late RNAs are transcribed by a four-subunit RNA polymerase that is virus encoded. The late viral mRNAs are capped and polyadenylated, and we have previously shown that capping is mediated by the LEF-4 subunit of baculovirus RNA polymerase. Here we report studies undertaken to determine the mechanism of 3'-end formation. A globin cleavage/polyadenylation signal, which was previously shown to direct 3'-end formation of viral RNAs in vivo, was cloned into a baculovirus transcription template. In vitro assays with purified baculovirus RNA polymerase revealed that 3' ends were formed not by a cleavage mechanism but rather by termination after transcription of a T-rich region of the globin sequence. Terminated RNAs were released from ternary complexes and were subsequently polyadenylated. Mutational analyses indicated that the T-rich sequence was essential for termination and polyadenylation, but the poly(A) signal and the GT-rich region of the globin polyadenylation/cleavage signal were not required. Termination was not dependent on ATP hydrolysis, indicating a slippage mechanism.
Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), few studies have examined the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and patients' interest in learning mind-body interventions to address health issues. We surveyed 89 adult patients (response rate 84%) at an outpatient hemodialysis center in Brookline, MA, USA regarding the utilization of CAM, including mind-body practices, and willingness to learn mind-body practices. Of respondents, 47% were female, 63% were black, and mean age was 62 years. 61% reported using CAM for health in their lifetime, and 36% reported using CAM within a month of the survey. The most frequent CAM modalities reported in ones' lifetime and in the last month were mind-body practices (42% and 27%, resp.). Overall lifetime CAM use did not differ significantly by sex, race, dialysis vintage, diagnosis of ESRD, employment status, or education level. Subjects reported that mind-body interactions were very important to health with a median score of 9 on a 10-point Likert scale (ranging from 0 for not important to 10 for extremely important). Most patients (74%) reported interest in learning mind-body practices during maintenance hemodialysis. In summary, CAM use, particularly mind-body practice, is frequent among patients with ESRD providing opportunities for future clinical research.
Phase determination of bulk and surface contributions to second-harmonic generation from the Si(001) surface

We determine the relative phase between bulk and surface contributions to second-harmonic generation (SHG) from Si(001) by exploiting the difference between right- and left-handed q-polarization, and by frequency-domain interferometric SHG.
Climate impacts on human settlement and agricultural activities in northern Norway revealed through sediment biogeochemistry

Disentangling the effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities on the environment is a major challenge in paleoenvironmental research. Here, we used fecal sterols and other biogeochemical compounds in lake sediments from northern Norway to identify both natural and anthropogenic signals of environmental change during the late Holocene. The area was first occupied by humans and their grazing animals at ∼2,250 ± 75 calendar years before 1950 AD (calendar years before present). The arrival of humans is indicated by an abrupt increase in coprostanol (and its epimer epicoprostanol) in the sediments and an associated increase in 5β-stigmastanol (and 5β-epistigmastanol), which resulted from human and animal feces washing into the lake. Human settlement was accompanied by an abrupt increase in landscape fires (indicated by the rise in pyrolytic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and a decline in woodland (registered by a change in n-alkane chain lengths from leaf waxes), accelerating a process that began earlier in the Holocene. Human activity and associated landscape changes in the region over the last two millennia were mainly driven by summer temperatures, as indicated by independent tree-ring reconstructions, although there were periods when socioeconomic factors played an equally important role. In this study, fecal sterols in lake sediments have been used to provide a record of human occupancy through time. This approach may be useful in many archeological studies, both to confirm the presence of humans and grazing animals, and to distinguish between anthropogenic and natural factors that have influenced the environment in the past.
The Mechanism of Chitosan Enhanced Lung Surfactant Adsorption at the Air-Liquid Interface in the Presence of Serum Proteins

Pressure-area isotherms and fluorescence microscopy were used to investigate the impact of chitosan on the competitive adsorption between lung surfactant (LS) and serum proteins at the air-liquid interface. Isotherms demonstrate an optimum chitosan concentration to mediate LS adsorption; higher concentrations actually reduce the amount of LS which can adsorb. Fluorescence microscopy images show the transition from a serum protein to LS-covered interface for the optimum chitosan concentration; this transition goes through a sharply phase separated coexistence region. The results suggest that the cationic chitosan molecules mediate adsorption of the negatively charged LS aggregates by reducing the electrostatic barrier imposed by negatively charged interfacial serum proteins.
Commentary: A new chapter for forensic ethics

In response to a new ethics framework for forensic publishing, this commentary invites speculation on how the framework will develop to incorporate the theories of its authors. Although medical ethics may now be an established cornerstone for forensic practice, it is in the more novel theories of cultural narrative, compassion, and robust professionalism that this new ethic will find its full expression. The commentary argues that it is only through approaches that integrate such multiple perspectives that publishing will join professionalism in protecting the ethics values that remain vulnerable in forensic practice.
Pneumothorax in the Critically Ill Patient

Pneumothorax in critically ill patients remains a common problem in the ICU, occurring in 4% to 15% of patients. Pneumothorax should be considered a medical emergency and requires a high index of suspicion, prompt recognition, and intervention. The diagnosis of pneumothorax in the critically ill patient can be made by physical examination findings or radiographic studies including chest radiographs, ultrasonography, or CT scanning. Ultrasonography is emerging as the diagnostic procedure of choice for the diagnosis and management guidance and management of pneumothoraces, if expertise is available. Pneumothoraces in unstable, critically ill patients or in those on mechanical ventilation should be managed with tube thoracostomy. If there is suspicion for tension pneumothorax, immediate decompression and drainage should be performed. With widespread use of CT scanning, there have been more occult pneumothoraces diagnosed, and the most recent literature suggests that drainage is preferred. In patients with a persistent air leak or failure of the lung to expand, current guidelines suggest that an early thoracic surgical consultation be requested within 3 to 5 days.
Effect of growth conditions on poly‐N‐acetylglucosamine expression and biofilm formation in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli contains a four-gene operon, pgaABCD, which encodes the proteins necessary for the synthesis of polymeric N-acetylglucosamine, or PGA. Poly-N-acetyl-glucosamine was first described in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and was found to have important roles in biofilm formation and immune evasion. PGA also plays a role in biofilm formation in E. coli, but its role in immune evasion has not been thoroughly studied. We previously reported that E. coli PGA cross-reacts with an opsonic-antibody raised against S. aureus PNAG and this is the basis for an ongoing investigation regarding the development of a vaccine against both pathogens. In this paper we investigated pga expression in wild type and csrA or nhaR deletion mutant strains during different growth phases and temperatures, and in response to chemical stimuli using a pga promoter-reporter fusion construct, real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR, immunoblotting, and biofilm assays. Expression of pga and polysaccharide synthesis were induced by glucose, NaCl, and ethanol, but only glucose augmented biofilm formation. The regulatory factor NhaR was required for NaCl-induced pga expression, whereas the effects of glucose and ethanol were independent of CsrA and NhaR.
Wavelet-based SAR speckle reduction and image compression

This paper evaluates the performance of the recently published wavelet-based algorithm for speckle reduction of SAR images. The original algorithm, based on the theory of wavelet thresholding due to Donoho and Johnstone, has been shown to improve speckle statistics. In this paper, we give more extensive results based on tests performed at Lincoln Laboratory (LL). The LL benchmarks show that the SAR imagery is significantly enhanced perceptually. Although the wavelet processed data results in an increase in the number of natural clutter false alarms, an appropriately modified CFAR detector (i.e., by clamping the estimated clutter standard deviation) eliminates the extra false alarms. The paper also gives preliminary results on the performance of the new and improved wavelet denoising algorithm based on the shift invariant wavelet transform. By thresholding the shift invariant discrete wavelet transform we can further reduce speckle to achieve a perceptually superior SAR image with ground truth information significantly enhanced. Preliminary results on the speckle statistics of this new algorithm is improved over the classical wavelet denoising algorithm. Finally, we show that the classical denoising algorithm as proposed by Donoho and Johnstone and applied to SAR has the added benefit of achieving about 3:1 compression with essentially no loss in image fidelity.
Redox signaling in vascular angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis is thought to be regulated by several growth factors (EGF, TGF-α, β-FGF, VEGF). Induction of these angiogenic factors is triggered by various stresses. For instance, tissue hypoxia exerts its pro-angiogenic action through various angiogenic factors, the most notable being vascular endothelial growth factor, which has been mainly associated with initiating the process of angiogenesis through the recruitment and proliferation of endothelial cells. Recently, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been found to stimulate angiogenic response in the ischemic reperfused hearts. Short exposure to hypoxia/reoxygenation, either directly or indirectly, produces ROS that induce oxidative stress which is associated with angiogenesis or neovascularization. ROS can cause tissue injury in one hand and promote tissue repair in another hand by promoting angiogenesis. It thus appears that after causing injury to the cells, ROS promptly initiate the tissue repair process by triggering angiogenic response.