cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computerized potential distribution mapping: a new intraoperative mapping technique for ventricular tachycardia surgery.

Abstract This study evaluated potential distribution mapping as a method for localizing the site of origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT). In contrast to conventional activation time maps, potential distribution maps require less editing and thus can be more automated and rapidly processed for interpretation of multiple beats of VT. As a series of potential distribution maps during VT is required for detailed analysis, an on-line computerized system was designed to display potential distribution maps sequentially at 1-ms intervals as a color movie. Potential distribution maps and activation time maps were constructed from 182 epicardial and endocardial unipolar electrodes during 12 episodes of reproducible monomorphic VT in 9 dogs four to six days after experimental myocardial infarction (mean cycle length, 162 ± 21 ms). At the onset of each depolarization during VT, a potential minimum abruptly developed on the surviving epicardium and another on the surviving endocardium of the left ventricle, both immediately adjacent to the subendocardial infarct. These two minima on the initial potential distribution maps corresponded to the sites of earliest epicardial and endocardial activation break-through recorded on the activation time maps. These two minima subsequently expanded or moved into the adjacent area and coincided with the spread of activation fronts on the epicardial and endocardial surfaces. Thus, the rapid display of sequential, computerized potential distribution maps of multiple beats of VT provides a dynamic means of identifying the site of origin of VT, and therefore should facilitate intraoperative mapping.
Distinct communication patterns during genetic counseling for late- onset Alzheimer's risk assessment §

Abstract Objective To identify and characterize patient–provider communication patterns during disclosure of Alzheimer's disease genetic susceptibility test results and to assess whether these patterns reflect differing models of genetic counseling. Methods 262 genetic counseling session audio-recordings were coded using the Roter Interactional Analysis System. Cluster analysis was used to distinguish communication patterns. Bivariate analyses were used to identify characteristics associated with the patterns. Results Three patterns were identified: Biomedical-Provider-Teaching (40%), Biomedical-Patient-Driven (34.4%), and Psychosocial-Patient-Centered (26%). Psychosocial-Patient-Centered and Biomedical-Provider-Teaching sessions included more female participants while the Biomedical-Patient-Driven sessions included more male participants ( p =0.04). Conclusion Communication patterns observed reflected the teaching model primarily, with genetic counseling models less frequently used. The emphasis on biomedical communication may potentially be at the expense of more patient-centered approaches. Practice implications To deliver more patient-centered care, providers may need to better balance the ratio of verbal exchange with their patients, as well as their educational and psychosocial discussions. The delineation of these patterns provides insights into the genetic counseling process that can be used to improve the delivery of genetic counseling care. These results can also be used in future research designed to study the association between patient-centered genetic counseling communication and improved patient outcomes.
Analysis of heat-labile sites generated by reactions of depleted uranium and ascorbate in plasmid DNA.

The goal of this study was to characterize how depleted uranium (DU) causes DNA damage. Procedures were developed to assess the ability of organic and inorganic DNA adducts to convert to single-strand breaks (SSB) in pBR322 plasmid DNA in the presence of heat or piperidine. DNA adducts formed by methyl methanesulfonate, cisplatin, and chromic chloride were compared with those formed by reaction of uranyl acetate and ascorbate. Uranyl ion in the presence of ascorbate produced U–DNA adducts that converted to SSB on heating. Piperidine, which acted on DNA methylated by methyl methanesulfonate to convert methyl–DNA adducts to SSB, served in the opposite fashion as U–DNA adducts by decreasing the level of SSB. The observation that piperidine also decreased the gel shift for metal–DNA adducts formed by monofunctional cisplatin and chromic chloride was interpreted to suggest that piperidine served to remove U–DNA adducts. Radical scavengers did not affect the formation of uranium-induced SSB, suggesting that SSB arose from the presence of U–DNA adducts and not from the presence of free radicals. A model is proposed to predict how U–DNA adducts may serve as initial lesions that convert to SSB or AP sites. The results suggest that DU can act as a chemical genotoxin that does not require radiation for its mode of action. Characterizing the DNA lesions formed by DU is necessary to assess the relative importance of different DNA lesions in the formation of DU-induced mutations. Understanding the mechanisms of formation of DU-induced mutations may contribute to identification of biomarkers of DU exposure in humans.
Ocular hazard from viewing the sun unprotected and through various windows and filters.

An optical source simulating the sun at the top of the atmosphere has been constructed and used to obtain retinal burn thresholds in the rhesus monkey for image diameters corresponding to that of the solar disk on the human retina. Powers incident on the cornea and retinal irradiances required to produce threshold lesions are given for exposure times ranging from 1 s to 3 min. The ocular hazards associated with viewing the sun through aircraft window systems are assessed in terms of these data. Also, radiation in the near infrared is shown to be less dangerous than visible light in producing thermal injury to the retina.
Molecular Mechanisms of Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Brain: Pivotal Role of the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Reactive Oxygen Species Generation

Stroke and circulatory arrest cause interferences in blood flow to the brain that result in considerable tissue damage. The primary method to reduce or prevent neurologic damage to patients suffering from brain ischemia is prompt restoration of blood flow to the ischemic tissue. However, paradoxically, restoration of blood flow causes additional damage and exacerbates neurocognitive deficits among patients who suffer a brain ischemic event. Mitochondria play a critical role in reperfusion injury by producing excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) thereby damaging cellular components, and initiating cell death. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the mechanisms of mitochondrial ROS generation during reperfusion, and specifically, the role the mitochondrial membrane potential plays in the pathology of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Additionally, we propose a temporal model of ROS generation in which posttranslational modifications of key oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) proteins caused by ischemia induce a hyperactive state upon reintroduction of oxygen. Hyperactive OxPhos generates high mitochondrial membrane potentials, a condition known to generate excessive ROS. Such a state would lead to a “burst” of ROS upon reperfusion, thereby causing structural and functional damage to the mitochondria and inducing cell death signaling that eventually culminate in tissue damage. Finally, we propose that strategies aimed at modulating this maladaptive hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential may be a novel therapeutic intervention and present specific studies demonstrating the cytoprotective effect of this treatment modality.
The Structure of the Lived Experience for Persons Having Undergone rTMS for Depression Treatment

OBJECTIVE: This phenomenological research study reports preliminary findings about experiences of persons undergoing repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for depression treatment.METHODS: Giorgi’s phenomenology was the method used to describe the structure of the lived experience for persons having undergone rTMS treatment for depression. Participants were recruited from the OPT-TMS pivotal depression study that resulted in the October 2008 FDA approval of rTMS. Thus far, nine persons comprise the purposive sample. Each participant was asked to describe the experience of undergoing rTMS for depression treatment and encouraged to provide as much details as possible.RESULTS:Four preliminary themes emerged to describe participants’ experiences of rTMS for depression treatment: (a) a narrative of frustration and helplessness with medication treatment resistance, (b) the sensory experience of rTMS, (c) mindfulness— an enhanced awareness of the content of consciousness, and (d) the importance of co...
The single-item meal as a measure of binge-eating behavior in patients with bulimia nervosa

Abstract To determine whether the characteristics of binge eating could be observed in a single-item meal, in a laboratory, patients with bulima nervosa and controls ate two single-item meals and two multiple-item meals. When they were instructed to binge eat, the patients ate significantly more and for a longer time on both single- and multiple-item meals than did controls. When they were instructed not to binge, intakes of the two groups did not differ. Controls, but not most of the patients, showed deceleration in their eating rate when they were asked to binge. Intakes of the single- and multiple-item meals were significantly correlated for the patients under both sets of instructions. These results are consistent with previous reports in indicating that patients with bulimia nervosa eat differently from controls and suggest that a single-item meal can be used to examine the characteristics of binge eating in patients with bulimia nervosa.
Ethical and social implications of nanotechnology

The projected impact of nanotechnology has been touted as a second industrial revolution—not the third, fourth, or fifth, because despite similar predictions for technologies such as computers and robotics, nothing has yet eclipsed the first. In the United States and in many other countries, numerous partnerships among industry, university, and government have been created to facilitate the research, development, and commercialization of nanotechnology advances. Such a collaboration is expected to bring about next generation of nanotechnology based products and new markets with a promise of job creation and economic development. According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), products incorporating nanotechnology will contribute approximately $1 trillion to the global economy by the year 2015. About two million workers will be employed in nanotechnology industries, and three times that many will have supporting jobs. Despite many benefits of nanotechnology there are potential risks and ethical issues ...
Saturated vapor and liquid densities of pure substances

Relationships between zR and PR have been developed for the prediction of the complete saturated vapor and liquid density curves of pure substances. The coefficients and exponents of these relationships were derived from the saturated densities of 23 polar and nonpolar substances and were found to depend on zc, the critical compressibility factor of each of these substances. Densities calculated with these relationships produced average deviations of 1.5% for the saturated vapor region and 2.7% for the saturated liquid region from 54 points considered for each substance. On a developpe des relations entre ZR et PR afin de predire les courbes de densites de substances pures a l'etat liquide et vapeur satures. Les coefficients et exposants de ces relations ont ete determines a l'aide des densites de 23 substances polaires et non-polaires et dependent de Zc, le facteur de compressibilite critique de ces substances. Les densites ainsi calculees montrent une deviation moyenne de 1.5% pour la region de vapeur saturee et de 2.7% pour la region de liquide sature.
Interface synthesis in heterogeneous system-level DSP design tools

We describe a framework that constructs interfaces between simulation tools and real-time prototyping hardware in a high-level DSP synthesis environment. A goal of this work is to abstract the concept of the interface so that customized links are not required between each simulation and hardware engine. To support a new engine, the DSP system designer must define two pairs of communication primitives between the new tool and host workstation. The interface construction mechanism provides incremental compilation of subsystems in a system specification into the high-level DSP synthesis environment. We illustrate this framework with practical examples that have been constructed in Ptolemy.
Ethical and Moral Matters in Teaching and Teacher Education.

The author reviews a set of articles on ethical and moral matters in teaching and teacher education previously published by Teaching and Teacher Education. Comparisons are made and a summary of findings offered.
Modeling threat behaviors in surveillance video metadata for detection using an Analogical Reasoner

Video surveillance systems are generating much more imagery than can be cost-effectively analyzed by human analysts. One approach to the automated analysis of this imagery is to split the problem into video-to-metadata and metadata-to-interpretation tasks. We describe a system for the metadata-to-interpretation task that automatically extracts propositional graphs from the video metadata and generates graphs for use in an analogical reasoning system to detect threat behaviors that occurred in the original video scene.1 2
Growth of Epitaxial Cu/TiN/6H-SiC(0001) Heterostructures by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Epitaxial Cu/TiN heterostructures were grown on hexagonal (6H)-SiC(0001) substrate by pulsed laser deposition using the domain epitaxy, where integral multiple of lattice constant or major planes match across the interface1. Such layers are needed for metallization of SiC bond integrated circuit devices. These Cu and TiN layers on SiC(0001) were grown at 600 degrees centigrade in a high vacuum (<10−6 Torr). This structure was characterized using X-ray diffraction technique and transmission electron microscopy. The X-ray diffraction recorded only (111) and (222) reflection of Cu and TiN. The full-width at half maximum of ω-rocking curve of (111) reflection of Cu (0.4 degree) and TEM results indicated a high epitaxial quality. The plan view transmission electron micrograph shows that Cu forms three-dimensional islands indicating that the Cu/TiN interface energy is very high. The island size varies from 0.2 to 2 μm. Analysis of selective aperture diffraction patterns and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, including high-resolution imaging, showed relationships Cu(111)//TiN(111)//6H-SiC(0001). The TiN/SiC an interface was locally atomically sharp and free from secondary phases or obvious interdiffusion. The typical defects in the TiN(111) layers consisted of threading domain boundaries. The mechanism of three-dimension growth of copper on TiN layers was discussed.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE SUPPLIER SELECTION PROCESS

Customers select suppliers based on the relative importance of different attributes such as quality, price, flexibility, and delivery performance. This study examines the difference between managers' rating of the perceived importance of different supplier attributes and their actual choice of suppliers in an experimental setting. We use two methods: a Likert scale set of questions, to determine the importance of supplier attributes; and a discrete choice analysis (DCA) experiment, to examine the choice of suppliers. The results indicate that although managers say that quality is the most important attribute for a supplier, they actually choose suppliers based largely on cost and delivery performance.
Elevated Temperature Strength, Aging Response and Creep of Aluminum Matrix Composites:

Aluminum matrix composites with reinforcement of planar-random graphite fibers, SiC whiskers, or alumina particulates have been evaluated for their high temperature performance. The composites were aged at 150 and 200°C for up to 500 hours. Microhardness results indicate accelerated aging of the composites in comparison with that of wrought 6061 Al resolutionized and aged under identical conditions. The aging response of the composites depends on the characteristics of the reinforcements. The graphite fiber reinforced composites and the silicon carbide whisker reinforced compos ites retain their tensile strength and stiffness in the overaged condition of the matrix. The composites were tested for their tensile stiffness and strength at temperatures of 150 to 350°C. The Young's modulus of all the composites remain relatively constant up to 350°C. Both the graphite fiber and silicon carbide whisker reinforced composites show substantial strength advantage over that of the wrought 6061 Al at all temperatures...
Regional variation in human supraspinatus tendon proteoglycans: decorin, biglycan, and aggrecan.

While tendons typically undergo primary tensile loading, the human supraspinatus tendon (SST) experiences substantial amounts of tension, compression, and shear in vivo. As a result, the functional roles of the extracellular matrix components, in particular the proteoglycans (PGs), are likely complex and important. The goal of this study was to determine the PG content in specific regions of the SST that exhibit differing mechanical function. The concentration of aggrecan, biglycan, and decorin was determined in six regions of the human SST using immunochemical techniques. We hypothesized that aggrecan concentrations would be highest in areas where the tendon likely experiences compression; biglycan levels would be highest in regions likely subjected to injury and/or active remodeling such as the anterior regions; decorin concentrations would be highest in regions of greatest tensile stiffness. Our results generally supported these hypotheses and demonstrated that aggrecan and biglycan share regional vari...
SARD: A statistical approach for ranking database tuning parameters

Traditionally, DBMSs are shipped with hundreds of configuration parameters. Since the database performance highly depends on the appropriate settings of the configuration parameters, DBAs spend a lot of their time and effort to find the best parameter values for tuning the performance of the application of interest. In many cases, they rely on their experience and some rules of thumbs. However, time and effort may be wasted by tuning those parameters which may have no or marginal effects. Moreover, tuning effects also vary depending on the expertise of the DBAs, but skilled DBAs are increasingly becoming rare and expensive to employ. To address these problems, we present a statistical approach for ranking database parameters (SARD), which is based on the Plackett & Burman statistical design methodology. SARD takes the query workload and the number of configuration parameters as inputs, and using only a linear number of experiments, generates a ranking of database parameters based on their relative impacts on the DBMS performance. Preliminary experimental results using TPC-H and PostgreSQL show that SARD generated ranking can correctly identify critical configuration parameters.
Protein allergenicity assessment of foods produced through agricultural biotechnology

Foods produced through agricultural biotechnology are reaching the consumer marketplace. These novel foods should be assessed for their safety, including their potential allergenicity. Agricultural biotechnology involves the introduction of novel proteins into the modified foods, and proteins can be allergenic. The potential allergenicity of the introduced proteins can be evaluated by focusing on the source of the gene, the homology of the newly introduced protein to known allergens, the reactivity of the novel protein with IgE antibodies from the serum of individuals with known allergies to the source of the transferred DNA or to materials that are broadly related to the source of the transferred DNA, the resistance of the novel protein to pepsin, and the immunoreactivity of the novel protein in appropriate animal models. Additional factors, such as the level of expression of the novel protein in the modified food and expression in the edible portion of the food, may also yield valuable insights. Applyin...
Near-lossless transform and wavelet compression or transient DPCM

We consider the problem of reducing the peak distortion of transform/wavelet compression schemes. A new coding scheme called transient DPCM (T-DPCM) is developed. It is shown that T-DPCM has the same asymptotic (in rate) mean squared-error (MSE) performance as the transform or wavelet compression system it is derived from (for an appropriate model). Further, it is shown that T-DPCM has significantly smaller peak distortion than the corresponding transform/wavelet coder. Results are provided for synthetic source models and for the image 'Lena'.
Holism: some reasons for buyer's remorse

(la) We cannot make sense of there being just one thought. If there is any thought then there must be quite a number of different thoughts attributable to the same thinker. (lb) The presence in a set of thoughts of one with a given content imposes some constraints on the contents of the rest of the set. (2) 'Only whole languages or whole theories or whole belief systems really have meanings, so that the meanings of smaller units ... are merely derivative' (Fodor & Lepore 1992: x). (3) The meaning which an individual thought has depends upon the whole collection ... in which it occurs in such a way that any change in the whole collection ... changes the content of every thought in it.
An Inverse Convection Problem

The nature of inverse problems in convective environments is investigated. The illposed quality inherent in inverse problems is verified for free convection laminar flow in a vertical channel. A sequential function specification algorithm is adapted for the semiparabolic system of equations that governs the flow and heat transfer in the channel. The procedure works very well in alleviating the ill-posed symptoms of inverse problems. The performance of a simple smoothing routine is also tested for the prescribed conditions.
Industrial Applications of Acoustic Wave Phenomena

Although high frequency sound waves find application throughout industrial processing and control, the applications which utilize microwave technology the most are those found in ultrasonic nondestructive testing. In the past, antenna theory and transmission line concepts have been used to describe ultrasonic transducer and their coupling to the parts to be tested. More recently, the more complex problems of mode conversion and dispersion by the medium in which the sound waves travel have received attention. The interaction of both shear and compressional waves with various possible defects is now being attacked rigorously with both experimental and theoretical tools. This paper will review recent advances in sound wave propagation in highly anisotropic media such as composites: the scattering of sound in solid media; the use of the normal modes of vibration of plates and bars for rapid inspection; computer aided acoustic holography; nonlinear effects for detecting internal stress; and dispersion of surface waves to analyze surface layers.
Accuracy limitations of chronaxie values

The strength-duration curve is a plot of the threshold current (I) versus pulse duration (d) required to stimulate excitable tissue. On this curve are two points: 1) rheobase (b) and 2) chronaxie (c). Rheobase is the threshold current for an infinitely long-duration stimulus. Chronaxie, the excitability constant, is the duration of a pulse of current of twice rheobasic strength. The mathematical expression for the strength-duration curve is I=b(1+c/d). Although there are many published values for chronaxie for various excitable tissues, the range of variability for a given tissue type is quite large. This paper identifies five factors that can affect the accuracy of chronaxie measurement and shows that the most reliable values can be obtained with a rectangular pulse delivered from a constant-current source.
DAMOCLES-An evolutionary approach to design tracking

The authors describe the Damocles design tracking system. Design tracking systems provide the notion of a project-wide design state, and facilitates to query the design state. Damocles adopts an observer architecture for design tracking systems. The primary goal of an observer-based design tracking system is to introduce design tracking while not disturbing the existing design process. Instead of mediating between the designer and his environment to obtain tracking information. Damocles gets tracking information on the sly, by having tool wrappers sent it messages about what the designer is doing. The central component of Damocles, which manages the design state is the meta-data server. For a large, multi-person project, the Damocles architecture ends up being a distributed database comprised of numerous communicating meta-data servers, each observing a designer's own workspace, with one dedicated to managing the project meta-data. Meta-data is communicated between servers to mirror data transfer during check-in and check-out. The Damocles architecture and prototype implementation details are described. >
The effects of thread placement on the KSR1

This paper describes a effects of thread placement on memory access times measurement study on the Kendall Square KSR1 multiprocessor. The KSR1 uses a conventional shared memory programming model in a distributed memory architecture based on a ring of rings of 64-bit superscalar microprocessors. Memory consists of local cache memories attached to each processor and is managed in a cache-only memory architecture (COMA) fashion. Experiments run on the KSR1 across a variety of thread configurations show that shared memory access is accelerated through strategic placement of threads which share data. The experiments "stress test" the automatic prefetching feature of the hardware. Strategies to keep the KSR1 memory access times nearly constant even when the number of participating threads increases are proposed. >
Mössbauer Spectroscopy and the Coordination Chemistry of Iron

Since its discovery, Mossbauer spectroscopy has proven to be a powerful technique in many aspects of chemistry, physics, and biology. In this chapter we discuss recent research which has used Mossbauer spectroscopy to follow the formation of new inorganic materials and to probe structural and magnetic phase transformations in inorganic compounds. To a large extent, Mossbauer spectroscopy can now be considered an additional tool, much like infrared and NMR spectroscopy, for the synthetic chemist in following the preparation of new materials. It becomes especially important in studying systems which refuse to yield single crystals or are either insoluble or decompose in solution. We illustrate the value of Mossbauer spectroscopy to the synthetic inorganic chemist through several types of iron compounds. Many similar examples of its use in tin synthetic chemistry are known, but will not be discussed in this chapter.
Data acquisition and cost-effective predictive modeling: targeting offers for electronic commerce

Electronic commerce is revolutionizing the way we think about data modeling, by making it possible to integrate the processes of (costly) data acquisition and model induction. The opportunity for improving modeling through costly data acquisition presents itself for a diverse set of electronic commerce modeling tasks, from personalization to customer lifetime value modeling; we illustrate with the running example of choosing offers to display to web-site visitors, which captures important aspects in a familiar setting. Considering data acquisition costs explicitly can allow the building of predictive models at significantly lower costs, and a modeler may be able to improve performance via new sources of information that previously were too expensive to consider. However, existing techniques for integrating modeling and data acquisition cannot deal with the rich environment that electronic commerce presents. We discuss several possible data acquisition settings, the challenges involved in the integration with modeling, and various research areas that may supply parts of an ultimate solution. We also present and demonstrate briefly a unified framework within which one can integrate acquisitions of different types, with any cost structure and any predictive modeling objective.
TOTAL DISCLOSURE VERSUS KEEPING SECRETS: MANAGING CAUSAL AMBIGUITY FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

The article discusses the importance of causal ambiguity as a method for firms to exploit their competencies and gain competitive advantage. The paradoxical need to promote ambiguity, in order to prevent successful imitation by other firms, but not allow it to have a negative impact on competence, is discussed. Ways in which ambiguity of causation can be managed by a firm in order to balance these conflicting needs are described, with an emphasis on leveraging competencies outside their units of origin.
Flip chip back end design parameters to reduce bump electromigration

The advancement in flip chip technology has enabled us to meet the requirement of smaller die size along with the increased functionality. Due to this development in flip chip packaging technology along with higher current carrying requirement of solder bumps, electromigration has now become a reliability concern. In this paper, a commercially available finite element tool is adopted in order to study the distribution of current density in eutectic solder bump for variety of back end design parameters. Parameters such as passivation opening (PO) diameter, trace width, under bump metallurgy (UBM) thickness and UBM diameter were studied in detail. The results were evaluated for input currents of 0.1 A and 0.5 A. Based on the results, a guideline for solder bump configuration is proposed. In the metallization, the most important design attribute found is the Al trace width. In the solder bump, the most important parameters found are Al trace width and UBM thickness. In the metallization of the structures used in our study, current density varied from 5times105 A/cm2 to 7times105 A/cm2 and from 2.5times106 A/cm2 to 3.5times106 A/cm2 at 0.1 and 0.5 A per bump, respectively. In the solder of the structures used in our study, current density varied from 2.8times103 A/cm2 to 4.2times104 A/cm2 and from 1.4times104 and 2.1times105 A/cm2 at 0.1 and 0.5 A per bump, respectively.
Bygiene: The New Paradigm of Bidirectional Hygiene.

The pervasive dogma surrounding the evolution of virulence — namely, that a pathogen’s virulence decreases over time to prevent threatening its host — is an archaic assertion that is more appropriately cast as an optimization of virulence cost and benefit. However, the prevailing attitudes underlying practices of medical hygiene and sanitization remain entrenched in these passe ideas. This is true despite the emergence of evidence linking those practices to mounting virulence and antimicrobial resistance in the hospital. It is, therefore, our position that just as the microbe has sought an optimized balance in virulence, so should we seek such an optimized balance in vigilance, complementing warfare with restoration. We call this approach “bygiene,” or bidirectional hygiene.
Risk assessment of gene flow from a virus-resistant transgenic squash into a wild relative

Plant viruses cause important economic losses to agriculture worldwide. In recent years, genetic engineering has provided a major breakthrough for the development of virus-resistant plants. The majority of virus-resistant plants are currently obtained based on the concept of pathogen-derived resistance [1]. The successful use of this technology was first described by Powell-Abel et al. [2] who showed that transgenic tobacco plants expressing the coat protein (CP) gene of tobacco mosaic tobamovirus were protected from infection by this virus. Since this pioneering work, numerous plants, including agronomically important crops, have been engineered for virus resistance, and several field trials have shown the efficiency of this strategy to protect plants from the deleterious effects of plant viruses [3].
Uruguayan buyer behaviour: conspicuous versus inconspicuous consumption

Self-concept is an important consumer behaviour trait that is tied with products purchased for personal use that may be judged by the consumers' reference groups. Such purchases are strongly influenced by self-concept expressed through brand loyalty, repetitiveness, risk taking and variety-seeking behaviours. However, most studies pertaining to this aspect of exploratory consumer behaviour have been conducted in developed countries rather than emerging markets such as those in Hispanic countries. Using a convenience sample of Uruguayan consumers, we illustrate how these exploratory behaviours affect the purchase of conspicuous versus inconspicuous products such as jeans and shampoo, where the degrees of involvement are dissimilar. Country-of-origin may affect how marketers should approach the different Hispanic countries with such products.
Yeast Two-Hybrid Assay for Studying Protein-Protein Interactions

Protein-protein interactions occur in a wide variety of biological processes and essentially control the cell fate from division to death. Today, the identification of proteins that interact with a protein of interest is a focus of intensive research and is an essential element of the rapidly growing field of proteomics. Yeast two-hybrid assays represent a versatile tool to study protein interactions in vivo. GAL4-based assay, for example, uses yeast transcription factor GAL4 for detection of protein interactions by transcriptional activation. Some transcription factors (such as GAL4) possess a characteristic phenomenon that the transactivation function can be restored when the factor's DNA-binding domain (DBD) and its transcription-activation domain (AD) are brought together by two interacting, heterologous proteins. GAL4-yeast two-hybrid assay uses two expression vectors, one uses GAL4-DBD and the other uses GAL4-AD. DNA sequences encoding the two proteins of interest (or a protein and a complementary DNA library) can be cloned in the GAL4-DBD and GAL4-AD vectors to form the bait and the target of the interaction trap, respectively. A selection of host cells with different reporter genes and different growth selection markers provides a means to detect and confirm protein-protein interactions and highlight the flexibility of these assays to fit different applications. This chapter presents an outline for the GAL4-based yeast two-hybrid system with a detailed description of the vectors, host cells, and methods for detection and verifying protein interactions.
Die Japanische Modernisierung und derJodo-shinshu-Buddhismus

Von mehreren wissenschaftlichen Veroffentlichungen, die einen Zusammenhang zwischen Japans Modernisierung (sprich : Kapitalisierung) und seinen traditionellen Religionen zu erforschen versuchen, behandelt die vorliegende kurze Abhandlung nur einige besondere Untersuchungen, die thematisch einen inneren Zusammenhang zwischen der Modernisierung Japans, und dem Jodo-shinshu-Buddhismus herzustellen versuchen.Zunachst sollen die Versuche von Kanji Naitti und Robert N. Bellah kritisch in Betrachtung gezogen werden. Beide schatzen zwar den Zusammenhang des Jodo-shinshu-Buddhismus mit der Modernisierung hoch ein, aber wenn man ihre Forschungen mit der Arbeit Max Webers vergleicht, stellen sich folgende zwei Probleme : Erstens ihr nicht hinrechendes Uberlegen des Unterschieds zwischen der japanischen und der europaischen Form der Geschichsentwicklung, und zweitens der Unterschied ihres Vergleiches, d.h. gegenuber Webers Untersuchung des Zusammenhangs zwischen Protestantismus und Industriekapital, betrachten sie den Zusammenhang des Jodo-shinshu-Buddhismus mit dem Handelskapial.Im folgenden werden die Arbeiten von Max Weber selbst und Iichi Oguchi behandelt, die den Zusammenhang des Jodo-shishu-Buddhismus mit Japans Modernisierung als nicht so stark bewerten. Daraus ergeben sich folgende zwei Fragen, besonders wenn man auf dem von Max Weber angebahnten Weg weitergehen will : warum entstand in Japan anders als in Europa nicht der asketische Geist als eine personliche innere Norm, und warum konnte trotzdem auch in Japan ein Arbeitsethos entstehen und die Kapitalisierung so intensiv vorangetrieben werden.Schlieslich kommt diese Abhandlung zu einer negativen Einschatzung gegen uber der Auffassung, das die Subjektivitatsbedingungen der japanischen Modernisierung in seinen Religionen (einschlieslich des Fido-shinshusuddhismus) liegen, und das man die Grunde dafur viel mehr in den Bedingungen der auBeren Norm der schicksalsverbundenen Gemeinschaftsmitglieder des “ie*” -System bzw. der “Nation” finden kann.
The finite element analysis of structure for tms mode three motor self-synchronism shale shaker

A new type of shale shaker is put forward,which excited by three motor self-synchronously.For confirming the stress peculiarity of TMS mode three motor self-synchronism shale shaker,ensuring the strength of the shaker body,the Finite Element model for strength calculating of the shaker body was built.At the same time,the dynamic prosperities are reached and the natural frequencies and the model shapes of the shaker are calculated.Analysis results indicate,the stress centralization of the shake body appears in the connection of the motors and flat board mainly,and the connection of the L-beam and the side of board,the stress of the whole shaker body satisfies with the intensity demand.
Factors associated with research productivity in family practice residencies.

BACKGROUND Research productivity and the associated features of research productivity in family practice residencies have not been well described. The objectives of this study are to describe residency research productivity and identify the set of independent factors that best characterize programs at various levels of productivity. METHODS A 23-item survey was mailed to 226 randomly selected family practice residency directors. The survey included items on program demographics, mentoring, resident and faculty research activities, and program research resources. Factor and discriminant analyses were performed to identify the major independent factors associated with productivity. RESULTS A total of 154 completed surveys were received for a response rate of 68%. Based on a cross tabulation of grants per program and publications per faculty, 22% of programs had high productivity, 46% had medium productivity, and 32% had low productivity. The significant factors of mentor support, amount of research activity, and program size contributed independently to the classification of programs by relative level of research productivity. These associations remained significant when university programs were excluded. CONCLUSIONS Family practice residencies with relatively higher research productivity are more likely to have three characteristics than lower productivity programs: availability of a research mentor, more faculty research activities, and larger program size.
Mechanism of angiotensin II stimulation of Na-K-Cl cotransport of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that Na-K-Cl cotransport of vascular smooth muscle cells is inhibited by hormones that increase intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophos...
Administrative case study: The patient care area pharmacist

The development and implementation of a patient area pharmacist position is described. Difficulties which led to the creation of this position are discussed. Primary duties of the position include improving communications with personnel in the patient care areas, reducing the work load and pressure within the pharmacy, and providing nonproduct and clinical services to health care personnel. The advantages and disadvantages of the position are discussed.
Theory: The Professional Dimension

One of the most important tasks before the profession of nursing is to establish the nature and uses of theory in professional nursing practice. It is not an easy task. Similarly, to present a paper on an aspect of this task to this group of nurse scientists is not exactly the most comfortable experience. Recently, Merton (1969) published an illuminating essay in which is included a description of the climate of scientific communities similarly at work on the task of clarifying and validating scientific theories that are proposed: The organization of science operates as a system of institutionalized vigilance, involving competitive cooperation. It affords both commitment and reward for finding where others have erred or have stopped before tracking down the implications of their results or have passed over in their work what is there to be seen by the fresh eye of another. In such a system, scientists are at the ready to pick apart and appraise each new claim to knowledge. This unending exchange of critical judgement, of praise and punishment, is developed in science to a degree that makes the monitoring of children’s behavior by their parents seem little more than child’s play. Only after the originality and consequence of his work have been attested by significant others can the scientist feel reasonably confident about it. Deeply felt praise for work well done, moreover, exalts donor and recipient alike; it joins them both in symbolizing the common enterprise. That, in part, expresses the character of competitive cooperation in science. (p. 220)
Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle.

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of internal auditory canal lesions focuses on acoustic neurinomas (Schwannomas), a small percentage of which are entirely intracanalicular. MR is now the imaging method of choice and allows for the detection of intracanalicular tumors as small as 3 mm. Acoustic neurinomas are isointense relative to the pons on MR T1-weighted images, mildly hyperintense on MR T2-weighted images, and enhance intensely after i.v. administration of gadolinium-DTPA. The radiologic evaluation of the cerebellopontine angle first addresses lesions of the angle itself, other than acoustic neurinomas. On CT, meningiomas show calcifications in 25% of cases and homogeneous enhancement in 90%; on MR they demonstrate homogeneous gadolinium-DTPA enhancement. Epidermoids do not enhance on MR. Cholesterol granulomas are strongly hyperintense on MR T1- and T2-weighted images. Rare vascular lesions may mimic neoplasm in the posterior fossa and in the cerebellopontine angle: vertebral basilar dolichoectasia, vascular loop or aneurysm of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. CT and MR characteristics of lesions extending into the cerebellopontine angle cistern are then reviewed: nonacoustic posterior fossa schwannomas, which have the same MR signal characteristics as the acoustic schwannoma; jugular fossa lesions, the most often encountered being the glomus jugular tumor; and rare intraxial posterior fossa tumors that extend into the cerebellopontine angle.
Approaches to knowledge acquistion: the instructable prodution system project

Progress in building systems that acquire knowledge from a variety of sources depends on determining certain functional requirements and ways for them to be met. Experiments have been performed with learning systems having a variety of functional components. The results of these experiments have brought to light deficiencies of various sorts, in systems with various degrees of effectiveness. The components considered here are: interaction language; organization of procedural elements; explanation of system behavior; accommodation to new knowledge; connection of goals with system capabilities; reformulation (mapping) of knowledge; evaluation of behavior; and compilation to achieve efficiency and automaticity. A number of approaches to knowledge acquisition tried within the Instructable Production System (IPS) Project are sketched.
Effects of Sialoadenectomy and Epidermal Growth Factor on Testicular Function of Sexually Mature Male Mice

AbstractThe effect of sialoadenectomy (Sx) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) administration on testicular function was investigated in 8-week old C3H mice. Animals were divided initially into three groups: sham operated controls, Sx, and Sx + EGF treated (100μg./kg./day subcutaneously for 28 days). Sialoadenectomy completely depleted the circulating levels of EGF and reduced body weight and reproductive organ weights. However, kidney weight was not affected. Quantitative analysis of spermatogenesis showed a decrease in preleptotene and pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, which resulted in a decrease in sperm counts. Sperm motility and fertility were also significantly decreased. Endocrinologic studies showed a 2- and 6-fold elevation in intratesticular and serum levels of testosterone and a decrease in luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Follicle stimulating hormone levels were not altered. Administration of EGF to the Sx animals maintained reproductive organ weights, spermatogenesis and levels of ...
Direct measurement of the Raman gain spectrum of glass fibers with femtosecond pulses

The magnitude1 and spectral dependence2-4 of the Raman gain of silica glass were studied by a number of researchers twenty years ago. The results of those investigations have subsequently been used in investigations of the effect of Raman gain on pulse compression using optical fibers, and in designing fiber Raman lasers and amplifiers. Intra-pulse Raman effects, such as Kartner’s5 recently proposed theory of noise generation in squeezing experiments using solitons and the soliton self-frequency shift,6 depend on the low frequency region of the gain spectrum. To assist further investigation of these effects, we present new measurements of the Raman gain spectrum from 10 cm −1 to 900 cm −1. In addition, we will describe observations of coherent excitation of low frequency inodes of the medium facilitated by our new experimental technique.
Impact forces during running: Loaded questions, sensible outcomes

Load carriage was used as an experimental tool to evaluate the ability of an anatomically-based, two-mass model of the human body to predict vertical impact and peak forces during running from only four inputs: body weight (Wb), contact time (ti), aerial time, (ti), and lower-limb acceleration (a1). Simultaneous motion and force data were acquired from seven subjects during steady-speed trials (3.0–6.0 m·s−1) on a custom, force-instrumented treadmill under three loading conditions: unloaded (1.0 Wb), 15% added weight (1.15 Wb) and 30% added weight (1.30 Wb). Model-predicted impact and peak forces corresponded with measured values, on average, to within 14.9±1.3% and 13.8±0.6%, respectively (R best-fits=0.82 and 0.88, n=71). Ankle jerk and velocity data derived from optical position-time data suggest wearable sensor acquisition of the model-needed inputs is fully feasible. We conclude that the two-mass model offers a promising approach to quantifying running ground reaction forces using wearable technologies.