cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and optimization of thermo-electrochemical cells

Thermo-electrochemical cells (or thermocells) convert thermal energy to electricity in continuous operation based on a balance of ion conduction and redox reactions at hot and cold electrodes. In this study, the fundamental governing equations for mass and heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and electrokinetics in thermocells are presented and solved numerically using COMSOL. A parametric study is performed to explore the limitations and optimal cell dimensions for maximum energy conversion efficiency in thermocells. Series-stacking designs are demonstrated to have the potential to increase conversion efficiency by 100 % compared to a single cell configuration. Natural convection is shown to significantly increase the conversion efficiency of thermocells with conventional aqueous electrolyte (0.4 M potassium ferri/ferrocyanide), by compressing the diffusive boundary layers. A flow cell thermocell design is also considered. Results reveal that the ohmic resistance of the electrolyte limits the energy conversion efficiency of this design.
Gender, Race, and Juvenile Court Outcomes: An Examination of Status Offenders

The intersectionality perspective suggests that the treatment of females and minority youth may be based on one’s social location in terms of oppression and privilege. Applying this perspective to ...
Hurricane Imaging Radiometer wind speed and rain rate retrievals during the 2010 GRIP flight experiment

Microwave remote sensing observations of hurricanes, from NOAA and USAF hurricane surveillance aircraft, provide vital data for hurricane research and operations, for forecasting the intensity and track of tropical storms. The current operational standard for hurricane wind speed and rain rate measurements is the Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR), which is a nadir viewing passive microwave airborne remote sensor. The Hurricane Imaging Radiometer, HIRAD, will extend the nadir viewing SFMR capability to provide wide swath images of wind speed and rain rate, while flying on a high altitude aircraft. HIRAD was first flown in the Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes, GRIP, NASA hurricane field experiment in 2010. This paper reports on geophysical retrieval results and provides hurricane images from GRIP flights. An overview of the HIRAD instrument and the radiative transfer theory based, wind speed/rain rate retrieval algorithm is included. Results are presented for hurricane wind speed and rain rate for Earl and Karl, with comparison to collocated SFMR retrievals and WP3D Fuselage Radar images for validation purposes.
Size reduced dual-band isolation circuits using hybrid right-handed transmission Lines for triplexers

A dual-band isolation circuit consisting of a composite right/left handed (CRLH) transmission line (TL) and a filter was previously studied, and its application to a triplexer was demonstrated. To implement designed CRLH TL, lumped elements were used for left handed (LH) part but a microstrip line was applied for right handed (RH) part. Because the size of a lumped element is relatively smaller than a microstrip line, if the size of a microstrip line would be reduced, the final size of a triplexer could be also reduced. In this paper, a hybrid RH TL, composed with lumped elements and a microstrip line, is introduced, and the theory for the hybrid RH TL and the design methodology are also explained. For verifying the concept, the triplexer, having the center frequencies 942.5 MHz, 1575 MHz, and 1842.5 MHz, is designed and fabricated.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS' KNOWLEDGE OF CHILDREN'S LEGAL RIGHTS

School psychologists need a working knowledge of laws affecting children. This investigation was done to discover whether members of Ohio's school psychological association, including intern school psychologists who were functioning in a supervised capacity, are as knowledgeable about law as they need to be to avoid lawsuits. Participants completed a custom-designed questionnaire. Survey of Children's Legal Rights, including questions assessing knowledge of children's rights in relation to child abuse, suspension and expulsion, corporal punishment, rights in juvenile court, special education, freedom of religion and speech, search and seizure within school, divorce and child custody, school vandalism, and school attendance. Analysis indicated significant misconceptions about legal decisions; however, these school psychology practitioners have adequate legal knowledge about most of the surveyed themes excepting provisions for special education. Language: en
PROTEIN PURIFICATION BY COUNTERACTING CHROMATOGRAPHIC ELECTROPHORESIS : QUANTITATIVE FOCUSING LIMITS AND PROTEIN SELECTION AT THE INTERFACE

Abstract Counteracting chromatographic electrophoresis combines the principles of gel permeation chromatography and gel electrophoresis to select and enrich the target protein at the interface between two gels of different internal porosity. The gel combination, carrier buffer pH, voltage gradients in the gel regions, buffer flow velocity, the size of the protein and its electrophoretic mobility influence the selection of experimental conditions for optimal separation. Purification factors of the order of 100–1000 are obtained in a sinlge step in a column of about 10–20 cm length. This method can be extended to nucleic acids and other charged macromolecules.
A dual approach to assessing collection development and acquisitions for academic libraries

With a growing interest in evaluating the effectiveness of libraries, it is increasingly important that libraries find efficient ways to evaluate the collection development and acquisitions process. This requires a dual approach to explore both what was collected and actually used and also what was not collected which should have been. This study presents a way that both of these areas can be studied for smaller academic libraries and suggests ways these results can be interpreted and used to reallocate scarce budgetary resources or provide evidence for more funds for further developing the collection.
A lecithinase from the amoeba Hartmannella rhysodes.

SYNOPSIS A lipogenic toxin produced by the amoeba Hartmannella rhysodes, Fernald strain, made mammalian cells in culture round up and fill with fat droplets. From this toxin an enzyme was obtained with lecithinase and lysolecithinase activities. This enzyme is different from any isolated elsewhere. When purified enzyme was added to strain L mouse fibroblasts in culture, the cells rounded up and became fatty. Much of the lipogenic activity of the original toxin can be ascribed to this enzyme.
Water relations in a desert millipede Orthoporus ornatus (Girard) (Spriostreptidae)

Abstract 1. 1. Transpiration rates were inversely related to body weight, directly related to surface area between 35 and 40° in large specimens and increased with death in Orthoporus ornatus . 2. 2. Increased activity accounted for marked increases in transpiration between 35 and 40°C, as did increased cuticular permeability in large specimens. 3. 3. Forced coiling reduced transpiration at 40°C but not at 30°C. 4. 4. Ingestion of succulent food enabled maintenance of body weight in dry air. 5. 5. Desiccated specimens did not absorb moisture across the cuticle from saturated air or water, but anal as well as oral water uptake was demonstrated from moist substrates. 6. 6. Desiccation resistance in O. ornatus is considerably greater than in millipedes previously studied.
Optical logic with variable-grating-mode liquid-crystal devices.

A liquid-crystal device that performs a two-dimensional intensity-to-spatial-frequency conversion has been investigated for use as an optical transducer. When such a device is used as the input transducer in an optical filtering arrangement, image-intensity levels can be easily manipulated by using appropriate Fourier plane filters. The variable-grating-mode liquid-crystal device is well adapted to performing binary logic operations on images. Results demonstrating the implementation of common logic operations are presented.
Association of HIV viral load with oral diseases.

OBJECTIVE: The measurement of HIV viral load as a predictor of disease progression has revolutionized the medical management of HIV patientS. In this study, oral diseases as measured by DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth), periodontal assessment and oral Candida colonization, were related to HIV viral load. Also correlated was HIV status assessments, including CD4 count, a history of intravenous drug abuse (IVDA) and the use of protease inhibitor drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oral and periodontal examination, dental radiographs, and tongue swab for fungal culture was accomplished over a 2-month period on 39 HIV positive patients attending the University of Maryland Dental School. Twenty-eight (71.8%) of these patients had a history of IVDA.Viral load was measured by a quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Among the patients with high viral load (>10 000 copies ml-1), 92.3% were found to have a history of IVDA.Also, patients with high viral load demonstrated average CD4+ counts of 136 mm-3 while moderate viral load (400-10 000 copies ml-1) corresponded to average counts of 271 mm-3.Periodontal pocket depths (PPD) of >5 mm at a minimum of two oral sites were found in 76.9% of the patients with high viral load. Among the high viral load patients, 69.2% had DMFT >20, 69.2% were culture positive for Candida and 81.5% of patients on protease inhibitors demonstrated moderate or low viral loads. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrated that elevated viral load levels correlate well with oral disease prevalence in this predominantly IVDA population of HIV-infected dental patients.
Multi-layer graphene field-effect transistors for improved device performance

Graphene has been of great interest for physicists and device engineers because of its true two-dimensional nature, unique energy band structure, excellent transport properties, and high mechanical and thermodynamic stability [1–3]. Graphene field-effect transistors (FETs) made from single-layer graphene (SLG) have been the center of attention due to their unique linear energy dispersion and the ability to modulate charge despite the absence of a band gap. It has been reported by numerous groups that nano-scale (width ≤ 30nm) SLG FETs exhibit high noise in transfer characteristics both at low temperatures and at room temperature [4–6]. Lin et al. attributed the noise in SLG nano-ribbon FETs to the trapped oxide charge in the substrate [7]. The work presented here explores the scaling impact of the graphene thickness on the device performance and indicates that the noise in aggressively scaled SLG FETs can be substantially reduced by employing few-layer graphene (FLG) as the channel material. In this paper, we present the first experimental study on charge and current distribution in multiple-layer graphene FETs. We have developed a model describing the coupling between graphene layers including the impact of screening, which is consistent with previous work on intercalated graphite structures [8].
Insulin stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 61-kilodalton protein in rat adipocytes.

Insulin stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 61-kilodalton (kDa) protein in rat adipocytes prelabeled for 2 h with [32P]orthophosphate. Tyrosine phosphorylation of this 61-kDa protein displayed very similar insulin concentration dependency to receptor autophosphorylation and tyrosine phosphorylation of a high molecular mass receptor substrate of 160 kDa. Phosphorylation of the 61-kDa protein was very rapid with maximum labeling attained at 30 sec, paralleling that of the other two proteins. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that each of the insulin-responsive phosphoproteins contained phosphoserine as well as phosphotyrosine, though the ratio of two phosphoamino acids recovered from each protein differed. The 61-kDa protein yielded relatively equal proportions of phosphoserine and phosphotyrosine. In contrast, the insulin receptor yielded relatively more label on phosphotyrosine than phosphoserine, whereas label incorporated into the 160-kDa protein was recovered primarily on phosphoserine. Clev...
Streptozotocin inhibits O-GlcNAcase via the production of a transition state analog.

Abstract Streptozotocin (STZ) is a 2-deoxy- d -glucopyranose derivative of a class of drugs known as alkylnitrosoureas, and is an established diabetogenic agent whose cytotoxic affects on pancreatic β-cells has been partially explained by the presence of its N-methyl-N-nitrosourea side chain, which has the ability to release nitric oxide as well as donate methyl groups to nucleotides in DNA. It has also been observed that STZ administration results in a rise in the level of O-GlcNAcylated proteins within β-cells. Not coincidentally, STZ has also been shown to directly inhibit the O-GlcNAcase activity of the enzyme NCOAT in vitro, which is the only enzyme that possesses the ability to remove O-GlcNAc modifications on proteins in the nucleus and cytosol. Since O-GlcNAc modification plays a role on a number of proteins in a vast amount of cellular processes, this shift in whole-cell protein O-GlcNAcylation state affords another source of cell death. We set about to find the exact mechanism by which STZ inhibits O-GlcNAcase activity. Inhibition is achievable because the GlcNAc analog STZ targets the active site of the enzyme whereby it is catalyzed. During this process, the enzyme converts STZ to a compound that closely resembles the natural ligand transition state, but is distinctly more stable energetically. As a result, this analog is catalyzed to completion at a much slower rate, thereby out-competing GlcNAc substrate for the active site, and inhibiting the enzyme.
Tracking gristmills in Portugal: retrospection and reflexivity on place, technology, and change

This article discusses changes in Portuguese gristmills driven by wind and water in the context of a personal retrospection on a field project carried out four decades earlier. Into the mid-twentieth century, windmills and two kinds of watermills were still important rural facilities to grind wheat, rye, and maize into flour. By the 1970s, technological change in Portugal had much reduced the number of those still operating; by 2011 most of those mills had ceased. The major exception is the persistence of watermills in the northwestern part of the country where maize cultivation, fondness for maize bread, powerful streams, hamlet settlement, and a conservative frugality converges to keep some mills still working. Nevertheless, they too, can be expected to disappear in the years ahead. Function is one thing; form is another. The Portuguese landscape remains rich in these structures and broadly held sentiment favors their preservation. Reflecting on a past project stimulated thinking about the importance of...
Preference for Macrojustice Versus Microjustice in Environmental Decisions

Both attitudes and behavior toward the environment are affected by the perceived justice of an environmental position. However, both sides in an environmental conflict will usually claim that justi...
Nucleation, Growth, and Adsorbate-Induced Changes in Composition for Co–Au Bimetallic Clusters on TiO2

The nucleation, growth, and CO-induced changes in composition for Co–Au bimetallic clusters deposited on TiO2(110) have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), low energy ion scattering (LEIS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. STM experiments show that the mobility of Co atoms on TiO2(110) is significantly lower than of Au atoms; for equivalent or lower coverages of Co, the number of clusters is higher and the average cluster height is smaller than for Au deposition. Consequently, bimetallic clusters are formed by first depositing the less mobile Co atoms, followed by the addition of the more mobile Au atoms. Furthermore, the reverse deposition of Au followed by Co results in clusters of pure Co coexisting with clusters that are Au-rich. For clusters with a total coverage of 0.25 ML, the cluster density increases and average cluster height decreases as the fraction of Co is increased. Annealing t...
Splicing: HACking into the unfolded-protein response

Abstract Unfolded proteins in the ER of Saccharomyces cerevisiae trigger a specialized RNA splicing event that allows the subsequent translation of the Hac1p transcription factor. This splicing can be reconstituted with Ire1p, a transmembrane kinase that has a sitespecific RNase activity, and tRNA ligase.
The Ethics of Ndau Performance: Questioning Ethnomusicology's Aesthetics

The examination of two contexts of Ndau performance from southeastern Zimbabwe—ceremonial drumming for spirit possession and secular muchongoyo dance/drumming—is an excellent starting point for reopening discussion about the analytical value of aesthetics in ethnomusicology. Members of these communities evaluate performances according to specific ethical values and social expectations. The parameters, values, and expectations that shape Ndau responses to sacred and secular performances can be compared to the legacy of aesthetic discourses in ethnomusicology that emerge from Immanuel Kant. Ultimately, aesthetics seems a counterproductive tool for understanding how communities such as this evaluate local performance practices. Within Ndau communities, the good is coterminous with the beautiful.
Patterns of mtDNA variation in Hawaiian freshwater fishes: the phylogeographic consequences of amphidromy

MtDNA sequencing was used to assess the phylogeographic structure of four species of Hawaiian freshwater fishes: Lentipes concolor, Stenogobius hawaiiensis, Sicyopterus stimpsoni, and Awaous guamensis. Samples of each species were collected from streams on the northeast side of Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, and Hawaii. We sequenced segments from both coding and noncoding regions (638-1391 bp) in each species. Sequence analysis uncovered genetic variability in these fishes but no evidence of strong geographic structure among island populations. This result is most readily explained by the fishes' larval marine life stage (amphidromy), which likely facilitates gene flow among island populations. By constraining genetic differentiation among populations, amphidromy may impede speciation in these fishes, possibly explaining why the Hawaiian freshwater fish fauna is depauperate compared to other species-rich Hawaiian faunas. It may also provide them with a kind of evolutionary flexibility atypical of other, more isolated island faunas and allow natural restocking to occur in streams that have been restored to suitable conditions. Comparisons of restriction site and sequence data suggested similar population genetic conclusions for all species except S. stimpsoni, for which the restriction site data is questioned.
UV photography, masculinity, and college men’s sun protection cognitions

This study examined the impact of an ultraviolet (UV) photography intervention and masculinity on college men’s sun protection cognitions, including: perceived vulnerability to skin damage, attitudes toward sun protection, willingness to engage in sun protection behaviors, and intentions to receive a skin cancer exam. After completing a baseline survey, participants (N = 152) viewed a black-and-white photo of their face. Half also viewed a photo showing their UV damage. Participants then completed a second survey assessing sun protection cognitions. Regressions revealed that masculinity predicted lower sun protection cognitions, and men in the UV photograph condition reported higher sun protection cognitions. Masculinity by condition interactions showed that the positive effect of UV photography was stronger among masculine men. Negative associations between masculinity and sun protection cognitions were significant only among men who did not receive the intervention. Findings suggest that UV photography is a promising sun protection intervention among masculine men.
Quinolinic acid lesions of the ventral striatum reduce sensorimotor gating of acoustic startle in rats

Abstract The startle reflex is inhibited when the startling stimulus is preceded 30–500 ms by a weak noise or ‘prepulse’. While the primary startle circuit is organized at or below the pons, the amount of ‘prepulse inhibition’ (PPI) is modulated by forebrain activity and is reduced in certain neuropsychiatric disorders. The reduction of PPI in these disorders is thought to reflect disturbances in sensorimotor inhibition which underlie an inability to ‘gate’ irrelevant sensory, motor or cognitive information. PPI is altered by pharmacologic manipulations of the ventral striatum, which is thought to modulate PPI via sequential efferent projections through the ventral pallidum and pontine reticular formation. In the present study, we assessed the effects of cellular lesions of the ventral striatum (VS) on PPI. Quinolinic acid lesions of the VS significantly reduced PPI and increased startle amplitude; however, changes in PPI and startle amplitude were not significantly correlated within rats. Infusion of the GABA agonist muscimol into ventral striatal terminal fields in the ventral pallidum significantly restored PPI in VS-lesioned rats, but did not reverse lesion effects on startle amplitude. It was verified that muscimol infusions were made into an area which receives direct VS innervation, using ventral pallidal injections of the retrograde tracer Nuclear yellow in VS sham-lesioned rats. Cells in the ventral striatum appear to modulate sensorimotor gating of the startle reflex via a GABAergic innervation of the ventral pallidum.
Fiberglass Tables for Sorting and Measuring Fish

(1981). Fiberglass Tables for Sorting and Measuring Fish. The Progressive Fish-Culturist: Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 135-135.
Sparse sampling and enhanced axial resolution in millimeter-wave holographic imaging

This paper describes an active millimeter-wave (MMW) holographic imaging system used for the study of compressive measurement for concealed weapons detection. We record a digitized on-axis, Gabor hologram using a single pixel incoherent receiver that is translated at the detector plane to form an image composite. Capturing measurements in the MMW regime can be costly since receiver circuits are expensive and scanning systems can be plagued by their long data acquisition times. Thus, we leverage recent advances in compressive sensing with a traditional holographic method in order to estimate a 3D (x,y,z) object distribution from a 2D recorded image composite. To do this, we minimize a convex quadratic function using total variation (TV) regularization. Gabor holograms are recorded of semi-transparent objects, in the MMW, mimicking weapons and other objects. We present preliminary results of 3D reconstructions of objects at various depths estimated from a 2D recorded hologram. We compare backpropagation results with our decompressive inference algorithm. A possible application includes remote concealed weapons detection at security checkpoints.
Three-dimensional Z 2 topological phases enriched by time-reversal symmetry

We study three-dimensional ${Z}_{2}$ topological phases enriched by ${Z}_{2}^{T}$ time-reversal symmetry with bosonic bulk excitations. Some of these phases can be constructed by simply coupling the three-dimensional symmetry protected topological phases with ${Z}_{2}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{Z}_{2}^{T}$ symmetry to a deconfined ${Z}_{2}$ gauge field. Besides these simple phases, we also construct two special root phases, whose boundary can have an extra ${Z}_{2}$ topological order in addition to their bulk topological order, and the boundary anyon excitations can have fractional time-reversal transformation $\mathcal{T}$ with ${\mathcal{T}}^{4}=\ensuremath{-}1$. In particular, the boundary $e$ and $m$ anyons of one of the two root phases are interchanged under time-reversal transformation, and they must be degenerate and orthogonal with each other. Eventually we obtain ${({\mathbb{Z}}_{2})}^{2}\ensuremath{\bigoplus}{({\mathbb{Z}}_{2})}^{2}$ classification (8 different phases) for ${Z}_{2}^{T}$-enriched ${Z}_{2}$ topological phases with bosonic bulk excitations in three dimensions.
An introductory computer science course for non-majors

This paper describes an approach to an introductory computer science course designed especially for students who are not specifically required to take a computer course and thus ordinarily receive no appreciation for computers or computing. This is the third semester this course has been offered. Student enrollment has been 31, 46 and 41 respectively. We anticipate higher enrollment figures next semester as more advisors are becoming aware of the course. In a typical semester students majoring in such disciplines as English, advertising, nursing, psychology, sports administration, sociology, broadcasting and communication, music, elementary education, art and anthropology have enrolled. This course is ideal for those majoring in mathematics education as one day they may be teaching such a course to high school students. To encourage this group of students to enroll in the course, we restricted students from engineering and physical sciences and business disciplines from attending. They are required to take a different computer course. We have observed that most students not required to take a computer course desire to learn something about computers, and because of the above restriction are less hesitant to enroll.
Comparative Studies of High MrSubunits of Rye and Wheat. III. Localisation of Cysteine Residues

Abstract The high M r subunit fraction of rye glutelin was isolated from flour (cultivar Danko) by a specific extraction/precipitation procedure. The Cys content of the rye fraction (1·9 mol-%) was increased by a factor of 2–3 in comparison with wheat high M r subunits. To identify the positions of the Cys residues within the sequences, the high M r subunit fraction of rye was partially hydrolysed with chymotrypsin and the digest was separated by covalent chromatography on Thiopropylsepharose 6B. The chymotryptic digest was separated into a minor bound portion (4%) and a major non-bound portion (96%). The Cys content of the bound portion (13·2 mol-%) was strongly increased compared with the total digest (2·3%). The Cys-containing peptides of the bound portion were separated by RP-HPLC, alkylated with 4-vinylpyridine, purified by RP-HPLC and sequenced by automated Edman degradation. Altogether, 51 Cys peptides were sequenced; 24 of them could be assigned to known sequences of wheat high M r subunits. The other peptides were either derived from alpha -amylase or trypsin inhibitors or from alpha -chymotrypsin. Four peptides could not be assigned. The peptides of the high M r subunits of rye represented six different Cys residues within the amino acid sequences. Five of these Cys residues corresponded to known Cys residues of wheat subunits: C a , C b and C d from domain A, C y from domain B and C z from domain C. Three Cys residues present in wheat subunits could not be detected in rye, the adjacent C c1 C c2 from domain A of y-type subunits and C e at the beginning of domain B of x-type subunit 5. One additional Cys residue of rye subunits (C z* ) located in domain C was found, which is not present in wheat high M r subunits. Thus, rye subunits could have a second Cys residue besides C z in domain C. This second Cys residue opens the possibility that high M r subunits of rye containing residue C z* are chain terminators.
Spatial distribution of abundant proteins in oocytes and fertilized eggs of the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Two-dimensional protein patterns were compared from sections along the longitudinal axis of oocytes and fertilized eggs of the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). Only a few differences were observed between four different sections through both oocyte and fertilized eggs. A set of proteins (14 out of 120 proteins) were found that reside only in the germinal vesicles (GV) of the fully grown oocyte. Two of these were observed exclusively in the vegetal half, and one in the animal half after GV breakdown, while other proteins were randomly distributed within the fertilized egg. One cytoplasmic protein was present only in the vegetal half of the mature oocyte and became present also in the animal half of the fertilized egg. Additional proteins were observed in all transverse sections of both mature oocyte and fertilized eggs. It is proposed that these proteins are modified rather than newly synthesized proteins.
Relationships of clinic size, geographic region, and race/ethnicity to the frequency of missed/shortened dialysis treatments

Significant international differences abound in the adherence of hemodialysis (HD) patients to prescribed treatments. Unfortunately, factors influencing adherence within the United States (US) are not well understood. This study explores the hypothesis that race/ethnicity, geographic region and clinic size are associated with differences in the frequency of missed/shortened treatments. A retrospective analysis on all prevalent chronic HD patients treated at Dialysis Clinics Inc. facilities between January 2007 and June 2008. Logistic regression models were computed in which the outcome measures were the odds for missing or shortening treatments. The cohort consisted of 15,340 HD patients of whom 48 % were non-Hispanic whites (NHW), 41 % African Americans (AA), 6 % Hispanics, 2 % Native Americans, 2 % Asians, and 1 % unknown. Patients were older in the Northeast than in the South (p 100 patients than in those with <50 patients. Compared to NHW, the frequencies of missed and shortened treatments were higher in AA, Hispanics and Native Americans (p < 0.001) but lower among Asians (p < 0.001). The frequency of missed and shortened HD varies significantly by race/ethnicity, geographic region and clinic size. The relationship of clinic size to missed/shortened treatments may warrant consideration when planning new HD facilities.
GROUP DISCUSSION EFFECTS ON CONFLICT BEHAVIOR AND SELF-JUSTIFICATION

Although most social conflicts involve opposing groups of people, experimental research on conflict behavior has almost exclusively utilized individual participants. The present research compared t...
Ecotourists' loyalty: will they tell about the destination or will they return?

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of price, value, satisfaction, quality, and performance on the ecotourists' loyalty towards the destination. By using an attitudinal approach, loyalty is conceptualised by analysing the post-purchase decision-making of the ecotourists (intent to return or recommend). The analysis is based on 454 on-site surveys collected from ecotourists visiting the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. The results from path analysis indicate that ecotourists are not likely to return but are willing to recommend the destination. The findings suggest that the Galapagos Islands might be perceived as an iconic destination and considered a ‘once in a lifetime experience’. The ecotourists' loyalty to the Galapagos is only reflected by their willingness to recommend. The article concludes with recommendations for tourism and government organisations regarding the management of word of mouth communications and first-time visitors in an attempt to improve sustainability.
Learning to Be Little Women and Little Men: The Inequitable Gender Equality of Nonsexist Children's Literature

Change in gender roles has been predominantly asymmetric: The roles of women have changed more than the roles of men. To explore the reflection of such asymmetry in the popular culture, we examined how books recommended to teachers and parents as “nonsexist” differed from books categorized as “sexist.” Multiple raters read a sample of elementary-level novels and rated the portrayals of various forms of sexism, including stereotypic personality, segregated work and family roles, status inequality, gender segregation, the traditional idealization of femininity, and unequal representation of the sexes. Although nonsexist books were more likely than sexist books to portray female characters who adopted male-stereotypic characteristics and roles, both types of books similarly portrayed female-stereotypic personality, domestic chores, and leisure activities. Such portrayals may contribute to the perpetuation of gender inequality, particularly if they are held up as examples of equality.
Autoradiographic Measurement of Regional Brainstem Blood Flow: Findings After 2 Hours of Occlusion of the Unilateral Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery and 30 Minutes Occlusion of the Unilateral Vertebral Artery

Using [14C]iodoantipyrine, regional brainstem blood flow was measured in the rat 2 h after occlusion of the left anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) and 30 min after occlusion of the left vertebral artery (VA). Two hours after occluding the left AICA, the mean +/- SEM value of blood flow in 6 animals in the right superior olive was 2.13 +/- 0.13 ml/g/min and in the left side, 1.13 +/- 0.11. Thirty minutes after occlusion of the left VA, there were no significant differences between the right and left sides. Blood flow changes were assessed in the hindbrain structures between the control group, 30 min after occlusion of the left VA and 2 h after occlusion of the left AICA. Changes observed in the blood flow in the hindbrain structures suggest that the extra volume of the blood flow might be concealed in the brainstem. However, whether the recovery of the blood flow rate indicates the recovery of the brainstem function remains unclear.
Review of United States and European clinical trials of zonisamide in the treatment of refractory partial-onset seizures

Zonisamide is an antiepilepsy drug (AED) with both sodium and calcium channel-blocking properties. This dual mechanism may predict efficacy in some refractory patients, and a broad spectrum of action against different seizure types. Zonisamide has been commercially available in Japan since 1989, and became available in the United States for treatment of adults over the age of 12 with partial-onset seizures in March 2000. Several multicenter clinical trials have been conducted in the United States over the past 15 years. These have included three double-blind, placebo-controlled trials as well as long-term open-label studies. Zonisamide was characterized in these studies as a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for partial-onset seizures. Zonisamide has not yet been studied in the United States as an initial monotherapy, but in one long-term study, some patients were able to discontinue other AEDs and successfully transition to monotherapy. The most frequently reported adverse events were somnolence, dizziness, and anorexia. Current United States labeling states that 12 patients with epilepsy receiving zonisamide had symptomatic kidney stones; however, after more than a dozen years of zonisamide use in Japan, the incidence of kidney stones associated with zonisamide remains low.
Clinical assessment and postrelease monitoring of 11 mass stranded dolphins on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The health, postrelease movements, and behavior of mass stranded Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus) and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, were evaluated. Health was assessed through physical examination and blood analysis. Eleven dolphins (eight white-sided dolphins and three common dolphins) were relocated, outfitted with satellite transmitters, and released during seven mass stranding events. Five transmitters recorded only location, and six also included a time-depth recorder. Transmission duration ranged from 8 h to 218 d, with a mean of 117 d (median = 118 d, SD = 82 d), after release. All dolphins demonstrated extensive movement throughout the Gulf of Maine. The distribution of tagged dolphins was considered normal based on comparisons with published data for these species. Excluding the dolphin that transmitted for only 8 h, mean minimum speeds for individual dolphins ranged from 3.4 to 6.6 km/h; overall mean for all dolphins was 5.4 km/h (SD = 0.9 km/h). The five dolphins with time-depth recorders had mean dive depths of 8.6–40.3 m and mean dive durations of 46–296 s. Hematologic and biochemical data revealed only minor abnormalities. Data suggest that at least 10 of the 11 dolphins were likely successfully reintroduced into the wild.
Mortality following development of breast cancer while using oestrogen or oestrogen plus progestin: a computer record-linkage study.

The literature on the relationship between breast cancer mortality and postmenopausal oestrogen and combined oestrogen/progestin therapy is seemingly contradictory. This study explored survival after exposure to oestrogen or oestrogen plus progestin at or in the year prior to breast cancer diagnosis. Information on patients first diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1993 and 1998 was linked with outpatient pharmacy data from 1992 to 2000. Patients were classified according to use of oestrogen alone or oestrogen plus progestin at or in the year prior to diagnosis. Compared to nonusers, and adjusting for age at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, tumour size and grade, oestrogen receptor status, surgery status, and chemotherapy and hormone therapy for breast cancer treatment, oestrogen plus progestin users had lower all-cause mortality (stage I hazard ratio (HR)=0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.48–0.99; stage II HR=0.53, 95% CI=0.39–0.72) and breast cancer mortality (stage I HR=0.52, 95% CI=0.26–1.04; stage II HR=0.69, 95% CI=0.48–0.98). Oestrogen users experienced little or no survival benefit for all-cause mortality (stage I HR=1.04, 95% CI=0.77–1.42; stage II HR=0.86, 95% CI=0.65–1.14) or breast cancer mortality (stage I HR=1.23, 95% CI 0.72–2.10; stage II HR=1.01, 95% CI 0.72–1.41). Our findings suggest, relative to nonusers, a lower risk of death from all causes and from breast cancer in patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer while exposed to oestrogen plus progestin, but not in patients exposed to oestrogen only.
Maternal Obesity and Epidemiological Review of Pregnancy Complications

The epidemic of obesity in the general population is now reflected in childbearing women. Obesity was first acknowledged as a risk factor for pregnancy more than 50 years ago (Galtier-Dereure et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71:1242S-1248S), with considerable perinatal and long-term health consequences for the mother and developing fetus. Maternal obesity increases the risk of several adverse reproductive outcomes, including hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes mellitus, cesarean delivery, thromboembolic events, postoperative morbidity, and anesthesia complications. Immediate fetal effects include difficulties with ultrasound assessment of in utero development, neural tube defects, and stillbirth. This chapter reviews current evidence linking maternal obesity with maternal and fetal complications during pregnancy.
Toward personalized care management of patients at risk: the diabetes case study

Chronic diseases constitute the leading cause of mortality in the western world, have a major impact on the patients' quality of life, and comprise the bulk of healthcare costs. Nowadays, healthcare data management systems integrate large amounts of medical information on patients, including diagnoses, medical procedures, lab test results, and more. Sophisticated analysis methods are needed for utilizing these data to assist in patient management and to enhance treatment quality at reduced costs. In this study, we take a first step towards better disease management of diabetic patients by applying state-of-the art methods to anticipate the patient's future health condition and to identify patients at high risk. Two relevant outcome measures are explored: the need for emergency care services and the probability of the treatment producing a sub-optimal result, as defined by domain experts. By identifying the high-risk patients our prediction system can be used by healthcare providers to prepare both financially and logistically for the patient needs. To demonstrate a potential downstream application for the identified high-risk patients, we explore the association between the physician treating these patients and the treatment outcome, and propose a system that can assist healthcare providers in optimizing the match between a patient and a physician.Our work formulates the problem and examines the performance of several learning models on data from several thousands of patients. We further describe a pilot system built on the results of this analysis. We show that the risk for the two considered outcomes can be evaluated from patients' characteristics and that features of the patient-physician match improve the prediction accuracy for the treatment's success. These results suggest that personalized medicine can be valuable for high risk patients and raise interesting questions for future improvements.
Detecting Ecosystem Performance Anomalies for Land Management in the Upper Colorado River Basin Using Satellite Observations, Climate Data, and Ecosystem Models

US Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, 47914 252nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57198, USA; E-Mail: wylie@usgs.gov * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ygu@usgs.gov; Tel.: +1-605-594-6576; Fax: +1-605-594-6529. Received: 26 June 2010; in revised form: 22 July 2010 / Accepted: 28 July 2010 / Published: 29 July 2010 Abstract: This study identifies areas with ecosystem performance anomalies (EPA) within the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) during 2005–2007 using satellite observations, climate data, and ecosystem models. The final EPA maps with 250-m spatial resolution were categorized as normal performance, underperformance, and overperformance (observed performance relative to weather-based predictions) at the 90% level of confidence. The EPA maps were validated using “percentage of bare soil” ground observations. The validation results at locations with comparable site potential showed that regions identified as persistently underperforming (overperforming) tended to have a higher (lower) percentage of bare soil, suggesting that our preliminary EPA maps are reliable and agree with ground-based observations. The 3-year (2005–2007) persistent EPA map from this study provides the first quantitative evaluation of ecosystem performance anomalies within the UCRB and will help the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) identify potentially degraded lands. Results from this study can be used as a prototype by BLM and other land managers for making optimal land management decisions. Keywords: satellite remote sensing; MODIS NDVI; ecosystem performance; ecosystem performance anomalies; ecosystem models; climate data; land management
Using Mathematica to aid simulation analysis

As computer power has increased, so has the capability of software developers to write programs that assist people with time-consuming tasks. Mathematica is such a program. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how Mathematica, a symbolic programming environment, can be used to aid simulation analysis. In addition to a general discussion of Mathematica's uses, advantages, and disadvantages, several examples are presented. The examples include using Mathematica for distribution fitting, queueing analysis, random number generation, and creating a surface plot for optimization.
New cyclometallated Ru(II) complex for potential application in photochemotherapy

In an effort to create a molecule that absorbs further into the optimum window for photochemotherapy (PCT), the new cyclometallated complex [Ru(biq)2(phpy)](PF6) (1, biq = 2,2′-biquinoline, phpy− = deprotonated 2-phenylpyridine) was synthesized, characterized and compared to the known photoactive complexes [Ru(biq)2(bpy)](PF6)2 (2, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) and [Ru(biq)2(phen)](PF6)2 (3, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), both of which undergo exchange of one biq ligand when irradiated with red light in coordinating solvents. Excited state ligand dissociation in 2 and 3 is believed to be related to the steric hindrance afforded by the presence of two coordinated biq ligands. The ligand exchange quantum yield of 2 is ∼2-fold greater than that of 3, which was shown to be cytotoxic when irradiated with visible light. Cyclometallation results in a red shift of the MLCT absorption maximum of 1 by ∼100 nm relative to those of 2 and 3, but, although 1 exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry, photoinduced ligand exchange does not occur. DFT calculations were used to aid in our understanding of the lack of photochemistry of 1 which is explained by the destabilization of the eg(σ*) orbitals upon cyclometallation.
Mutations in half baked/E-cadherin block cell behaviors that are necessary for teleost epiboly.

Epiboly, the spreading of the blastoderm over the large yolk cell, is the first morphogenetic movement of the teleost embryo. Examining this movement as a paradigm of vertebrate morphogenesis, we have focused on the epiboly arrest mutant half baked (hab), which segregates as a recessive lethal, including alleles expressing zygotic-maternal dominant (ZMD) effects. Here we show that hab is a mutation in the zebrafish homolog of the adhesion protein E-cadherin. Whereas exclusively recessive alleles of hab produce truncated proteins, dominant alleles all contain transversions in highly conserved amino acids of the extracellular domains, suggesting these alleles produce dominant-negative effects. Antisense oligonucleotides that create specific splicing defects in the hab mRNA phenocopy the recessive phenotypes and, surprisingly, some of the ZMD phenotypes as well. In situ analyses show that during late epiboly hab is expressed in a radial gradient in the non axial epiblast, from high concentrations in the exterior layer of the epiblast to low concentrations in the interior layer of the epiblast. During epiboly, using an asymmetric variant of radial intercalation, epiblast cells from the interior layer sequentially move into the exterior layer and become restricted to that layer; there they participate in subtle cell shape changes that further expand the blastoderm. In hab mutants, when cells intercalate into the exterior layer, they tend to neither change cell shape nor become restricted, and many of these cells `de-intercalate9 and move back into the interior layer. Cell transplantation showed all these defects to be cell-autonomous. Hence, as for the expansion of the mammalian trophoblast at a similar developmental stage, hab/E-cadherin is necessary for the cell rearrangements that spread the teleost blastoderm over the yolk.
Thirty-Two-Bit Fat Clients Have Hit the Wall: Consequences for TRIP™

In its 2003 Annual meeting, the Society of Computer Applications in Radiology launched the Transforming the Radiologist Interpretation Process (TRIP™) initiative. As described at the time, TRIP™ is intended to assist radiologists with the tsunami of exploding data sets that they are increasingly expected to interpret. TRIP™ initially focused on three high level strategic objectives: However, there is a fundamental consideration that must presage the above concerns. Namely, will the computer architectures used even be capable of swallowing the data torrent that is pointed at them?