cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Ion-Exchange Resins and Biosorbents for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Plating Factory Wastewater

The NCP (Neurospora crassa gene expressed in the periplasmic space) is a recombinant Escherichia coli expressing the Neurospora crassa metallothionein gene within the periplasmic space. The NCP has been shown to remove heavy metals from solutions containing low concentration of heavy metals. In this study, the ability of NCP to remove heavy metals from wastewater was compared to the commercial sorbents Duolite GT-73, IRC-718, and BIO-FIX. Three process wastewater streams, acid/alkali, chromate, and cyanide, were tested at their original pH and near neutral pH. In addition to other contaminants, the wastewaters contained metals including Cd, Cu, Ni, and Ag. NCP was most efficient in removing the heavy metals from wastewaters at near neutral pH. Chromium removal per gram of IRC-718 at pH 2.05 was an order of magnitude higher than any other sorbent in either pH-unadjusted or pH-adjusted samples. Duolite GT-73, IRC-718, and BIO-FIX had similar efficiency in removing heavy metals from the pH-adjusted wastewate...
Converting dipyrrinones to lactim ethers to fluorescent N , N ′-difluoroboryl derivatives

A high-yield straightforward conversion of lactams to lactim ethers is shown by the conversion of (10H)-dipyrrin-1-ones to (11H)-dipyrrin-1-ol methyl and ethyl ethers in 90% yield from heating in neat trimethyl or triethyl phosphite at 160°C. Unlike the parent dipyrrinones, which form intermolecularly hydrogen-bonded dimers in CHCl3, their lactim ethers are shown to be monomeric by vapor pressure osmometry. The latter react with boron trifluoride etherate to N,N′-bridged BF2 derivatives that exhibit strong fluorescence (φF 0.6–0.8) near 535 nm. X-Ray crystal structures were obtained of the lactim ethyl ether of kryptopyrromethenone and the BF2 derivative of the lactim ethyl ether 2,3-diethyl-7,8-dimethyl-(10H)-dipyrrin-1-one.
Beta versus VHS and the acceptance of electronic brainstorming technology

This paper argues that much of the past research on electronic brainstorming has been somewhat myopic. Much as Sony focused on the quality of the picture on its Beta format, we as IS researchers have focused on the number of ideas generated as the dominant measure of electronic brainstorming effectiveness. When VHS killed Beta, Sony discovered that image quality was a secondary consideration for most VCR users. Despite the compelling research on its performance benefits, electronic brainstorming has not yet displaced-or even joined-verbal brainstorming as a widely used idea generation technique. This paper presents arguments that users may not be primarily concerned with the number of ideas generated when planning a brainstorming session, but rather may equally desire group well being and member support. We present theoretical arguments and empirical evidence suggesting that electronic brainstorming is not as effective as verbal brainstorming at providing group well being and member support. We believe that these arguments may also apply to other group and individual research areas and may also call for a reevaluation of the technology acceptance model (TAM). Finally, we suggest further research that may help electronic brainstorming avoid the fate of the Beta format.
Toll-like receptors, inflammation and cancer

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in the host defense against invading microorganisms by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The anti-cancer effects of a number of microbial components, that have been used as adjuvants for the immunotherapy of cancers, are mediated through TLR signaling. However, cancer immunotherapy is not always successful because of the immunosuppression associated with cancer progression. Recently, a number of endogenous molecules have been reported to be ligands of TLRs. It has been suggested that the release of these putative endogenous ligands of TLRs during cancer progression may cause chronic inflammation leading to the recruitment of myeloid suppressor cells and down-regulation of T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell receptor zeta (ζ) chain resulting in T and NK cell dysfunction. However, the reported putative endogenous TLR ligands may have been contaminated with PAMPs. Further studies are necessary to define the existence of endogenous TLR ligands and their potential contribution to the immunosuppression in cancer.
V(D)J recombinase precursors and coding structure of signal sequence directed rearrangement

Abstract In order to increase our understanding of the complex process of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor signal sequence directed rearrangements in vertebrates, an evolutionary approach was designed to (1) assess structural motifs important for rearrangement, (2) discuss evidence for precursors of recombinase candidates and (3) characterize a putative example of a recombinase mediated translocation in a human tumor of non-hematologic origin. Genomic reorganization occurs as a normal, developmentally regulated process in a variety of organisms. In the vertebrates, recombination signal sequence directed V(D)J rearrangement operates during the development of both T- and B-cells to generate mature T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin variable region genes, respectively. It is argued that this type of signal sequence directed rearrangement event probably evolved from a primitive rearrangement system, and it is proposed that novel rearranging gene families exist in other terminally differentiating tissues.
A frequency domain metamodeling approach to transient sensitivity analysis

This paper develops a metamodel approach to approximate the transient relationship between a univariate output response and one or more continuous-valued input factors in a computer simulation. The approach is based on a variant of Frequency Domain Methodology (FDM) in which a metamodel is hypothesized in the time domain; the analysis and parameter estimation are performed in the frequency domain; and finally prediction and inference are made back in the time domain. The switching of domains for analysis and estimation is advantageous because it permits the simultaneous consideration of multiple input factor changes. The metamodel is then used to estimate the mean transient function of the output response after a discontinuous change has been made to each individual input factor. The methodology is illustrated on an M/M/1 queue and a three-station tandem queue.
Plasticity in membrane cholesterol contributes toward electrical maturation of hearing.

Advances in refining the “fluid mosaic” model of the plasma membrane have revealed that it is wrought with an ordered lipid composition that undergoes remarkable plasticity during cell development. Despite the evidence that specific signaling proteins and ion channels gravitate toward these lipid microdomains, identification of their functional impact remains a formidable challenge. We report that in contrast to matured auditory hair cells, depletion of membrane cholesterol in developing hair cells produced marked potentiation of voltage-gated K+ currents (IKv). The enhanced magnitude of IKv in developing hair cells was in keeping with the reduced cholesterol-rich microdomains in matured hair cells. Remarkably, potentiation of the cholesterol-sensitive current was sufficient to abolish spontaneous activity, a functional blueprint of developing and regenerating hair cells. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that developmental plasticity of lipid microdomains and the ensuing changes in K+ currents are important determinants of one of the hallmarks in the maturation of hearing.
Magneto-optical studies of n-GaAs under high hydrostatic pressure

Far-infrared laser spectroscopy and Fourier spectroscopy are used in order to study the influence of hydrostatic pressure on shallow donor and cyclotron resonance spectra in high-purity epitaxial films of n-GaAs. Accurate pressure variations for the effective mass and dielectric constant are obtained at a temperature of 4.2K and pressures of up to 17.3kbar. These parameters are subsequently used to interpret the pressure variation of the chemical shifts of the 1s and 2s levels. It is shown that the dependence of these chemical shifts on magnetic field at fixed pressure can be described well by lowest-order perturbation theory. The ratio of the chemical shifts of the 1s level to the corresponding chemical shifts of the 2s level at zero magnetic field is found to be pressure independent and equal to 7.2+or-0.3 for all donors. A much stronger increase of chemical shifts than that predicted by lowest-order perturbation theory is observed on increasing pressure. In addition, a resonant interaction of the 1s level of the deepest shallow donor with a strongly localised level of the same impurity centre is observed on increasing pressure. A qualitative interpretation of all these phenomena is given.
Hypertension treatment in a medicare population: adherence and systolic blood pressure control.

Abstract Background: Despite substantial trial evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of pharmacologic treatment for reducing blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular events, many patients are nonadherent to their hypertension treatment. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine patient adherence to hypertension medications using pharmacy data (ie, outpatient, inpatient, and mail-order prescriptions) and the association between adherence measures and systolic BP (SBP) control. Methods: The study included Medicare+Choice beneficiaries (aged ≥ 65 years) who were continuously enrolled in an integrated delivery system in 2003, and who had documented hypertension and received ≥1 hypertension drug in 2002. This analysis used automated clinical data and the 2000 US Census. We estimated 2 measures of hypertension treatment adherence in 2003 using the supply of dispensed drugs in days (proportion of days covered ≥80%): (1) adherence to ≥1 hypertension drug; and (2) adherence to the full hypertension treatment regimen. We defined the regimen by the number of hypertension drugs used concurrently in 2002. We assessed adherence annually and during the 30, 60, and 90 days before an SBP measurement. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between adherence and the number of drugs in the hypertension regimen, as well as the association between adherence and elevated SBP (≥140 mm Hg). We adjusted for patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Results: The majority (52.8%) of patients had multidrug hypertension regimens. In 2003, 87.3% of subjects were adherent to ≥ 1 hypertension drug; 72.1% were adherent to their full regimen. After adjustment, we found that subjects with multidrug regimens were significantly more likely to be adherent to ≥ 1 drug and significantly less likely to be adherent to their full regimen, compared with patients on a 1-drug regimen. Over one-third of subjects had elevated SBP in 2003. Both adherence measures were associated with lower odds of having elevated SBP (eg, odds ratio = 0.87 [95% CI, 0.84–0.89] for adherence to the full regimen). For subjects with multidrug regimens, partial adherence and nonadherence to the regimen were associated with higher odds of having elevated SBP. Conclusions: Adherence measures using automated pharmacy data can identify patients who are nonadherent to their drug treatment regimen and who are more likely to have inadequately controlled BP. Adherence measures that account for the number of drugs in a patients' drug regimen might help identify additional patients at risk for poor BP outcomes due to partial treatment adherence.
The Rationality and Efficiency of Stock Price Relative to Money Announcement Information

Recent studies find that stock price reacts only to unanticipated changes in the money supply. These studies assume a joint hypothesis of rationality and efficiency in their tests. This paper formulates a model in which stock price depends both upon anticipated and unanticipated money supply forecasts. From this model, an econometric model that separates the hypotheses of rationality and efficiency is estimated. The results show that investors rationally incorporate forecasts of the weekly current money announcement into stock price during the pre-October 6, 1979, sample period. However, efficiency with respect to money information cannot be corroborated in this period. Cross-equation restrictions implied by rationality are rejected during the post-October 6, 1979, period. In this period, efficiency again cannot be corroborated. Alternative money prediction specifications indicate the robustness of these results.
Interventional Bronchoscopy from Bench to Bedside: New Techniques for Central and Peripheral Airway Obstruction

This article discusses how basic scientific concepts, based on a greater understanding of airway physiology, support the development and dissemination of multidimensional classification systems for tracheal stenosis, expiratory central airway collapse, and innovative interventional bronchoscopic procedures for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The action of thrombin on blood clotting factor V: conversion of factor V to a prothrombin-binding protein.

Abstract Incubation of “native” factor V with thrombin (EC 3.4.4.13) or the purified factor V-activating enzyme from Russell's viper venom converts factor V to a form which binds to a prothrombin-Sepharose affinity column. The thrombin-altered factor V is quantitatively eluted from the affinity column by increasing the ionic strength of the buffer.
A standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduces alcohol consumption in nontreatment-seeking male heavy drinkers

We previously demonstrated that short-term treatment with a standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduced alcohol drinking by men and women in a natural setting. The present study was conducted in nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers to assess the safety and efficacy of 4 weeks of kudzu extract in an outpatient setting. This randomized between-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 2 weeks of baseline, 4 weeks of treatment, and 2 weeks of follow-up. Seventeen men (21–33 years) who reported drinking 27.6 ± 6.5 drinks/week with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence took either kudzu extract (250 mg isoflavones, t.i.d.) or matched placebo on a daily basis. They reported alcohol consumption and desire to use alcohol using a wrist actigraphy device; twice weekly laboratory visits were scheduled to monitor medication adherence and adverse events. Medication adherence was excellent and there were no adverse events and changes in vital signs, blood chemistry, and renal or liver function. There was no effect on alcohol craving, but kudzu extract significantly reduced the number of drinks consumed each week by 34–57 %, reduced the number of heavy drinking days, and significantly increased the percent of days abstinent and the number of consecutive days of abstinence. A standardized formulation of kudzu extract produced minimal side effects, was well-tolerated, and resulted in a modest reduction in alcohol consumption in young nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers. Additional studies using treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent persons will be necessary to determine the usefulness of this herbal preparation in reducing alcohol use in other populations.
Introduction to the Special Issue: What Does It Mean to Do Ethical and Engaged Research With Immigrant Communities?

In recent years, the politics and ethics surrounding research have garnered increasing attention among scholars from diverse epistemological perspectives. Scholarly publications range from more mat...
A liquid-scintillation-based primary standardization of 210Pb

A new radioactivity solution standard of 210Pb has been developed and will be disseminated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as standard reference material (SRM) 4337. This new 210Pb solution standard is contained in a 5 mL flame-sealed borosilicate glass ampoule, consists of (5.133+/-0.002)g of a nominal 1mol L(-1) nitric acid solution, has a density of (1.028+/-0.002)g mL(-1) at 20 degrees C, has carrier ion concentrations of about 11 microg Pb2+ and 21 microg Bi3+ per gram of solution, and is certified to contain a massic activity (9.037+/-0.22)kBq g(-1) as of the reference time 1200 EST, 15 June 2006. All of the uncertainties cited above correspond to standard uncertainties multiplied by a coverage factor k=2. The standardization for the (210)Pb content of the solution was based on 4pialphabeta liquid scintillation (LS) measurements using CIEMAT/NIST (3)H-standard efficiency tracing (CNET). Confirmatory determinations were also performed by high-resolution HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry, by 2pialpha spectrometry with a Si surface barrier detector of separated 210Po, and by 4pibeta(LS)-gamma(NaI) anticoincidence counting.
One‐Day Behavioral Intervention in Depressed Migraine Patients: Effects on Headache

Objective To determine whether a 1-day behavioral intervention, aimed at enhancing psychological flexibility, improves headache outcomes of migraine patients with comorbid depression. Background Migraine is often comorbid with depression, with each disorder increasing the risk for onset and exacerbation of the other. Managing psychological triggers, such as stress and depression, may result in greater success of headache management. Method Sixty patients with comorbid migraine and depression were assigned to a 1-day Acceptance and Commitment Training plus Migraine Education workshop (ACT-ED; N = 38) or to treatment as usual (TAU; N = 22). Patients completed a daily headache diary prior to, and for 3 months following, the intervention. Clinical variables examined included headache frequency/severity, medication use, disability, and visit to a health care professional. Comparisons were made between baseline findings and findings at the 3-month follow up. Results Participants assigned to the ACT-ED condition exhibited significant improvements in headache frequency, headache severity, medication use, and headache-related disability. In contrast, the TAU group did not exhibit improvements. The difference in headache outcomes between ACT-ED and TAU was not statistically significant over time (ie, the treatment by time interaction was nonsignificant). These results complement those of a previous report showing effects of ACT-ED vs TAU on depression and disability. Conclusion A 1-day ACT-ED workshop targeting psychological flexibility may convey benefit for patients with comorbid migraine and depression. These pilot study findings merit further investigation using a more rigorously designed large-scale trial.
Effects of beam modifiers and immobilization devices on the dose in the build-up region

Abstract Purpose : To analyze the effect that immobilization devices used in conjunction with beam modifiers may have on the dose to the skin and build-up region. Methods and Materials : Central axis depth dose measurements were made in a polystyrene phantom in the build-up regions using the 6 and 15 MV photon beams, at two different source-to-phantom distances, and various field sizes. The effects of acrylic blocking trays, lead wedges, and cerrobend blocks were assessed in conjunction with the enhancement of dose in the build-up region due to immobilizing devices using plaster and thermoplastic casting materials of different thicknesses. Results : For the 6 MV photons, solid (3 mm) thermoplastic casting material was found to have the greatest effect on surface dose: for a 12 × 12 cm field we measured 79% of maximum dose when treating through the material versus 22% of maximum dose when no beam modifiers or immobilization devices are used. Measurements were also made to evaluate the effect of the immobilization of patients receiving three-dimensional conformal treatments using a 15 MV photon beam. Conclusions : The relevance of these results to treatments in the pelvis, breast, and head and neck regions is discussed. For 6 MV beams, special consideration should be given if the need arises to treat through the immobilization device, as unacceptable skin reactions may result.
A Colorimetric Microwell Method for Determining Bromide Concentrations

Bromide is commonly used as a tracer in studies of water and chemical transport in soil and rock because it is relatively nonreactive with soil and rock constituents and because of its low environmental background concentrations. Based on a largely ignored modification of an American Public Health Association standard colorimetric method for determining Br ― using phenol red and chloramine-T(CT), we have corrected an internal error and recast the technique for use with 96-well microplates. Furthermore, the addition of thiosulfate to quench the undesirable chlorination reaction as previously published is shown to be unnecessary and even detrimental following the use of NH 4 + to produce chloramine from excess Cl species. The method detection limit is 0.11 mg L ―1 Br ― ; negative interference with dissolved organic C can be addressed by either standard additions or solid-phase extraction with C18 sorbent. By reducing the sample size from 300 to 20 μL, the concentration range can be expanded from 12 mg L ―1 Br ― to as much as 300 mg L ―1 Br ― .
AN EXPANSION OF ROGER BARKER''S BEHAVIOR SETTING SURVEY FOR AN ETHNO-ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO PERSON–ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS

Abstract Roger Barker's Behavior Setting Survey is generally recognized as the first major effort to bring physical and social contexts into psychological methodologies for studying human behavior. Since Barker's day, advances in social theory, speech act philosophy, pragmatics and other disciplines within the human sciences have converged with Barker's concerns in various ways, making it possible to sharpen and enrich a number of his formulations. The methodological school of critical qualitative research in many ways occupies the vanguard of approaches synthesizing advances in social theory for methodological application. Critical qualitative research, however, has yet to take advantage of Barker's work on behavior settings. Thus both Barker's work and the work of critical ethnographers can be enriched through a synthesis of their theoretical constructs and procedures. This pilot study explores the advantages of synthesizing behavior setting survey and critical qualitative methodology. A university department was studied through a truncated version of the Behavior Setting Survey (BSS) and also with Carspecken's five-stage model for critical social research. Results are significant on both substantive and analytical levels. It was found that departmental behavior patterns discovered through the BSS are only explicable when their cultural conditions are reconstructed via critical qualitative data analysis. This was true particularly with respect to the ‘circuitry’ discovered by the BSS but explained through cultural reconstructions.
Race in epidemiology.

The Journal has opened its pages to an important debate, taking place primarily in the United States, on the scientific merits of including race as a category in vital statistics. To begin this deb...
A Case Study Perspective on the Importance of Motivation in the Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Up until three decades ago, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was deemed treatment resistant—an incurable and chronic disease. However, advent of specific behavioral techniques and new pharmacological agents (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) has altered this course and brought effective relief for many OCD patients. Nonetheless, a substantial number of individuals with OCD are treatment resistant and an even greater number refuse treatment or drop out prematurely. The cognitive-behavioral treatment of a 39-year-old male with OCD is described in this case study. Motivational interviewing (MI) techniques were integrated into treatment to increase adherence, particularly exposure exercises. Frequency and duration of compulsive behaviors were measured over the course of treatment and standard assessment measures were used to assess the severity of OCD symptoms. At posttreatment and follow-up a clinically significant improvement was demonstrated for OCD symptoms. Implications of these data are reviewed, and re...
Vertex Function in Quantized Field Theories

An integral representation is given for the vertex function $F({k}^{2}, {p}^{2}, {(k\ensuremath{-}p)}^{2})$. This representation is obtained on the basis of local commutativity and the spectral conditions. It exhibits the set of points ${k}^{2}$, ${p}^{2}$, for which $F$ is analytic in ${(k\ensuremath{-}p)}^{2}$ except for the physical cut. The limitations found in the representation are discussed on the basis of examples obtained from perturbation theory. These examples give some insight into the question of further analytic continuation in ${k}^{2}$ and ${p}^{2}$.
Right Bipyramids of Silver: A New Shape Derived from Single Twinned Seeds

Silver nanoparticles with a single (111) twin were selectively nucleated and grown for the first time to produce right bipyramids 75−150 nm in edge length. Key to the production of single twinned seeds was the addition of NaBr to a polyol synthesis in which AgNO3 is reduced by ethylene glycol in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone). Examination of nanoparticles at different stages of the reaction with electron microscopy revealed that the spherical, single twinned seeds grew to become right bipyramids through enlargement of their (100) facets. The UV−vis−NIR spectrum exhibited by right bipyramids is distinct from that of any other silver nanostructure, and their sharp corners make these new nanoparticles especially promising for enhancement of Raman scattering.
Fondaparinux: a new synthetic and selective inhibitor of Factor Xa

Fondaparinux (Arixtra) is the first synthetic selective Factor Xa inhibitor. Its efficacy and safety in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) was first studied in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery, a setting in the highest risk category for postoperative thrombotic complications. Low-molecular-weight heparins are frequently used in this setting, but the rates of VTE still range between 15% and 33%. In large clinical trials, fondaparinux started 6 hours postoperatively was significantly more effective than enoxaparin in preventing VTE in patients undergoing total hip replacement, total knee replacement or hip fracture surgery. The benefit of extended fondaparinux prophylaxis after hip fracture surgery was also investigated. Other trials have demonstrated that fondaparinux is efficacious in the prevention of VTE in other patient populations at risk of thrombosis and in the treatment of symptomatic VTE.
Transparent random access memory testing for pattern sensitive faults

This paper presents a new methodology for RAM testing based on the PS(n, k) fault model (the k out of n pattern sensitive fault model). According to this model the contents of any memory cell which belongs to an n-bit memory block, or the ability to change the contents, is influenced by the contents of any k -1 cells from this block. The proposed methodology is a transparent BIST technique, which can be efficiently combined with on-line error detection. This approach preserves the initial contents of the memory after the test and provides for a high fault coverage for traditional fault and error models, as well as for pattern sensitive faults. This paper includes the investigation of testing approaches based on transparent pseudoexhaustive testing and its approximations by deterministic and pseudorandom circular tests. The proposed methodology can be used for periodic and manufacturing testing and require lower hardware and time overheads than the standard approaches.
SUPPRESSION OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN CHOLESTEROLEMIC RABBITS BY DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE

Abstract : The results of this study indicate that DMSO retards the development of dietary cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits and suppresses the accumulation of cholesterol in tissues despite severe hypercholesterolemia. While the mechanism of action of DMSO in suppressing atheosclerosis is not known, our in vitro studies suggest that one of its antiatherogenic effects is related to its capacity to reduce the binding, uptake, and degradation of plasma LDL by tissues and cells.
Business and e-government intelligence for strategically leveraging information retrieval

The purpose of this paper is to provide practitioners of information exploration of the need for Business and e-Government Intelligence Systems (BGIS), the role such intelligence plays in competitive market research, industry, through the comparison of vendors, advantages and disadvantages, comparing the costs and benefits and some future insights. A review of the applied literature on topics that focus is on utilising Business Intelligence (BI) as a competitive tool in an online retrieval environment. The growth for BI systems may be dramatic [actual (2004, $5.3 billion; 2004, $5.6 billion) and predicted growth (2005, $6 billion; 2006, $6.5 billion; 2007, $7 billion and in 2008, $7.3 billion)], its associated costs may be equally stunning, especially in end-user query, reporting, analysis, data-mining applications and packaged data mart and/or warehousing applications. However, the figures reported in the paper should support the notion that BGIS-related systems' applications are potentially a good investment and worthy of considerable research in the knowledge management fields.
Effects of Empowerment on Performance in Open-Source Software Projects

An enduring issue that intrigues researchers and practitioners in open-source software (OSS) development is what motivates individuals to participate and make contributions, given the lack of numerating mechanisms. Amidst several end-state-focused motives advocated by prior studies (such as improved programming skills and future career growth), we add that an important contributing factor is empowerment , the positive feelings derived from task assessments in OSS projects. Through survey data collected from 233 OSS participants, we assess how components of psychological empowerment (i.e., autonomy, competence, meaningfulness, and impact) derived from OSS tasks may affect the work output of participants. In particular, we demonstrate that competence and impact have a positive influence on OSS participants' performance, while autonomy and meaningfulness have a slightly negative influence on performance. In addition, empowerment's effects on performance can be mediated by effort expended. Theoretical contributions and managerial implications of this study are discussed.
Self-Orientation and Depression Level among Dominicans in the United States

This research examines an interaction model in which self-orientation levels mediate the effects of perceived social support and general self-efficacy on depression level. Two dimensions of self orientation were included in this formulation: idiocentrism (the tendency to define oneself through self-attributes) and allocentrism (the tendency to define oneself in relation to others). We hypothesized that idiocentrism would interact with general self-efficacy and that allocentrism would interact with perceived social support to create an individual's depression level. The two hypotheses were tested using 85 low-socioeconomic-status Dominicans living in the United States by means of ANOVAs. No support wasfoundforeither hypothesis. Wefound, however; that this sample reported high levels of (a) depressive symptomatology and (b) allocentric orientation.
Activity Zones for Context-Aware Computing

Location is a primary cue in many context-aware computing systems, and is often represented as a global coordinate, room number, or a set of Euclidean distances to various landmarks. A user’s concept of location, however, is often defined in terms of regions in which similar activities occur. We discuss the concept of such regions, which we call activity zones, and suggest that such zones can be used to trigger application actions, retrieve information based on previous context, and present information to users. We show how to semi- automatically partition a space into activity zones based on patterns of observed user location and motion. We describe our system and two implemented example applications whose behavior is controlled by users’ entry, exit, and presence in the zones.
Evaluating the validities of different DSM-IV-based conceptual constructs of tobacco dependence.

Aim To compare the concurrent and predictive validities of two subsets of DSM-IV criteria for nicotine dependence (tolerance and withdrawal; withdrawal; difficulty controlling use; and use despite harm) to the concurrent and predictive validity of the full DSM-IV criteria. Design Analysis of baseline and outcome data from three randomized clinical trials of cigarette smoking treatment. Setting San Francisco, California. Participants Two samples of cigarette smokers (n = 810 and 322), differing with regard to baseline characteristics and treatment received, derived from threerandomizedclinicaltrials.Measurements DSM-IVnicotinedependencecriteriaweremeasuredatbaselinewith a computerized version of theDiagnostic Interview Schedule for DSM-IV(DIS-IV). Additional baseline measures included the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND), number of cigarettes smoked per day, breath carbon monoxide (CO) level, the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS), the Michigan Nicotine Reinforcement Questionnaire (M-NRQ) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Seven-day point-prevalence abstinence was assessed at week 12. Findings Full DSM-IV criteria displayed greater concurrent validity than either of the two subsets of criteria. However, DSM-IV symptoms accounted for only a nominal amount of the variance in baseline smoking-related characteristics and were unrelated to smoking abstinence at week 12. Cigarettes smoked per day was the only significant predictor of abstinence at week 12. Conclusions Although the findings do not provide a compelling alternative to the full set of DSM-IV nicotine dependence criteria, its poor psychometric properties and low predictive power limit its clinical and research utility.
Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates neuropathology in congenital inferior division oculomotor palsy.

Isolated inferior division oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) is rare. Acquired cases have been associated with neurologic or systemic disease. To our knowledge, congenital inferior division ONP is previously unreported. We present a case of congenital inferior division ONP in which magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the structural neuropathy.
Emerging evidence for the role of an endorectal balloon in prostate radiation therapy

Purpose: To reassess and update the role of an endorectal balloon (ERB) in prostate radiotherapy (RT) based on emerging evidence by reviewing various aspects of treatment methodologies and clinical outcomes. Methods and materials: A literature review based on a PubMed/MEDLINE database search using keywords such as: ERB, prostate RT, toxicities, real-time, image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), radiofrequency-guided radiotherapy (RGRT), and inter- and intrafraction prostate motion for articles published over the past two years. Ten articles were identified and subdivided into three categories: (I) Issue of Motion, (II) Dosimetry, (III) Clinical Outcomes. Results: With the advent of real-time prostate tracking, analysis of intrafraction motion as a function of treatment time for patients treated with a daily-ERB was performed and revealed an overall reduction in 3D prostate motion, especially in the anterior-posterior direction. Two different groups of authors found that this reduction in intrafraction prostate motion allowed for tighter internal margins. Dosimetric studies showed overall improved dose distributions which for proton therapy were maximized when using ERBguided range verification for anteriorly oriented beams. Clinical outcomes showed favorable early GI toxicities however late toxicity results are still awaited. Conclusions: Utilizing a daily-ERB shows favorable early GI toxicity as well as reduced prostate intrafraction motion based on real-time tracking data. Reduced intrafraction motion improves the feasibility to use anteriorly oriented proton beams, which may further improve dosimetry.
Recommended Nutritional Supplements for Bariatric Surgery Patients

Objective:To review nutritional supplements commonly required after bariatric surgery to provide a practical guide and reference source for generalist healthcare providers.Data Sources:A PubMed literature search (1968–July 2008) was conducted, using the search term nutritional deficiency after bariatric surgery, and was limited to English-language literature on adult (aged >19 y) human subjects. Additional references from the selected literature were also included.Study Selection and Data Extraction:Data were extracted from large clinical series and practice guidelines whenever possible. Case reports were used only when they were the sole information source.Data Synthesis:Nutritional deficiencies that occur after bariatric surgery depend significantly on the type of surgery performed. Restrictive procedures such as gastric banding are the least likely to cause nutritional deficits, since none of the Intestine is bypassed. Malabsorptive procedures such as biliopancreatic diversion or mixed restrictive/mala...
Antigen presentation by chemically modified splenocytes induces antigen-specific T cell unresponsiveness in vitro and in vivo.

We investigated the antigen specificity and presentation requirements for inactivation of T lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies revealed that splenocytes treated with the crosslinker 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (ECDI) and soluble antigen fragments failed to stimulate significant proliferation by normal pigeon cytochrome c-specific T cell clones, suggesting that the chemical treatment inactivated full antigen presentation function. However, T cell clones exposed to ECDI-treated splenocytes and antigen in vitro were rendered unresponsive for at least 8 d to subsequent antigen stimulation with normal presenting cells. As predicted by the in vitro results, specific T cell unresponsiveness was also induced in vivo in B10.A mice injected intravenously with B10.A, but not B10.A(4R), splenocytes coupled with pigeon cytochrome c via ECDI. The antigen and MHC specificity of the induction of this T cell unresponsiveness in vitro and in vivo was identical to that required for T cell activation. These results suggest that nonmitogenic T cell recognition of antigen/MHC on ECDI-modified APCs results in the functional inactivation of T cell clones.
Aggregation of Membrane Proteins by Cytosolic Cross-Linkers: Theory and Simulation of the LAT-Grb2-SOS1 System

Ligand-induced receptor aggregation is a well-known mechanism for initiating intracellular signals but oligomerization of distal signaling molecules may also be required for signal propagation. Formation of complexes containing oligomers of the transmembrane adaptor protein, linker for the activation of T cells (LAT), has been identified as critical in mast cell and T cell activation mediated by immune response receptors. Cross-linking of LAT arises from the formation of a 2:1 complex between the adaptor Grb2 and the nucleotide exchange factor SOS1, which bridges two LAT molecules through the interaction of the Grb2 SH2 domain with a phosphotyrosine on LAT. We model this oligomerization and find that the valence of LAT for Grb2, which ranges from zero to three, is critical in determining the nature and extent of aggregation. A dramatic rise in oligomerization can occur when the valence switches from two to three. For valence three, an equilibrium theory predicts the possibility of forming a gel-like phase. This prediction is confirmed by stochastic simulations, which make additional predictions about the size of the gel and the kinetics of LAT oligomerization. We discuss the model predictions in light of recent experiments on RBL-2H3 and Jurkat E6.1 cells and suggest that the gel phase has been observed in activated mast cells.
GETTING TO THE CANOPY: TREE HEIGHT GROWTH IN A NEOTROPICAL RAIN FOREST

There is still limited understanding of the processes underlying forest dy- namics in the world's tropical rain forests, ecosystems of disproportionate importance in terms of global biogeochemistry and biodiversity. Particularly poorly documented are the nature and time scale of upward height growth during regeneration by the tree species in these communities. In this study, we assessed long-term height growth through ontogeny for a diverse group of canopy and emergent tree species in a lowland neotropical rain forest (the La Selva Biological Station, northeastern Costa Rica). Species were evaluated based on annual height measurements of large samples of individuals in all postseedling size classes, over a 16-yr period ( .11 000 increments). The study species were seven nonpi- oneers (Minquartia guianensis, Lecythis ampla, Hymenolobium mesoamericanum, Sima- rouba amara, Dipteryx panamensis, Balizia elegans,and Hyeronima alchorneoides ) and two pioneers (Cecropia obtusifoliaand Cecropia insignis). For each species, inherent height growth capacity was estimated as the mean of the five largest annual height increments (from different individuals) in each juvenile size class (from 50 cm tall to 20 cm in diameter). All species showed marked ontogenetic increases in this measure of height growth potential. At all sizes, there were highly significant differences among species in height growth potential. The two Cecropia species consistently showed the highest observed maximum height increments as smaller juveniles (#4 cm in diameter). Among the nonpioneers, Sim- arouba had the highest growth potential across all juvenile sizes. For all species, mean annual height increments in all juvenile size classes were very much lower than the species' potential growth rates and reflected the impacts of frequent periods of zero growth and major height losses from physical damage. Because of the same factors, maximum net height increments declined over increasing measurement intervals (1-15-yr periods). With only one exception (Simarouba amara saplings #1 cm in diameter that survived 10 yr), the annual height growth increments of these species showed no significant temporal au- tocorrelation. For the seven nonpioneer species, we estimated the minimum time required to grow from 50 cm tall saplings to 10 cm diameter trees, based on their greatest net height increments over increasing intervals. Estimated passage times increased from 7-33 yr, when based on maximum 5-yr height increments, to 37-83 yr, when based on maximum net height growth over 15 yr for the six longest studied (nonpioneer) species. Given the erratic height growth trajectories found for these juvenile trees in this 16-yr study, it is clear that much longer term observation is required. Still unknown are the actual growth trajectories that characterize successful regeneration in each of our focal species, how much time successful trees spend as suppressed juveniles, and the number of times they experience and recover from major physical damage.
Direct Writing of 3D Microstructures Using a Scanning Laser System

In this paper, a new revolutionary 3D manufacturing approach to rapid processing of 3D microstructures in both soft (SU-8) and rigid (Si) materials is introduced. This technique facilitates very fast prototyping without the need of masks, resulting in a low-cost, short-turnaround flexible fabrication process.
Ursodeoxycholic acid as a chemopreventive agent in patients with ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis

Abstract Background & Aims: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has shown effectiveness as a colon cancer chemopreventive agent in preclinical studies. In addition, a recent report suggests that it also may decrease the risk for developing colorectal dysplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We sought to evaluate the effect of UDCA on colorectal neoplasia in a group of patients with UC and PSC enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: From a prior, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of UDCA therapy in PSC at our center, we followed-up patients with concomitant UC to assess the effect of UDCA on the development of colorectal dysplasia and cancer as compared with placebo. Results: Fifty-two subjects were followed-up for a total of 355 person-years. Those originally assigned to receive UDCA had a relative risk of 0.26 for developing colorectal dysplasia or cancer (95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.92; P = 0.034). Many of the patients originally assigned to the placebo group eventually received open-label UDCA. Assigning these patients to the UDCA group from the time they began active therapy did not change the magnitude of the protective effect (relative risk, 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.99; P = 0.049). Conclusions: UDCA significantly decreases the risk for developing colorectal dysplasia or cancer in patients with UC and PSC.
Ctf7p/Eco1p exhibits acetyltransferase activity--but does it matter?

Abstract In eukaryotic cells, faithful chromosome segregation depends upon the physical pairing, or cohesion, between sister chromatids. Budding yeast CTF7/ECO1 (herein termed CTF7 ) encodes an essential protein required to establish cohesion during S-phase and associates with DNA replication factors [1–10]. However, the molecular mechanism by which Ctf7p establishes cohesion remains unknown. In vitro characterization of Ctf7p as an acetyltransferase led to the model that this activity provides for Ctf7p's essential function [11]. However, in vivo Ctf7p substrates have yet to be documented, nor has an in vivo acetyltransferase activity been demonstrated even when Ctf7p is overexpressed [11] (A. Brands and R.V. Skibbens, unpublished data). In fact, the effects of acetylation-defective Ctf7p ( ctf7 ack- ) in yeast remain to be rigorously tested, leaving unanswered the critical questions of whether Ctf7p acetyltransferase activity is essential for cell viability and to what extent this activity is required for the establishment of cohesion. Here, we show that yeast strains harboring acetyltransferase-defective alleles [11] as the sole source of Ctf7p function exhibit robust growth and high fidelity chromosome transmission.
The embedded-bound method for estimating the change in rock moduli under pore fill and mineral phase substitution

We extended the embedded bound method to the calculation of the exact change in effective shear modulus of a two-phase material under fluid or solid substitution. Except for points lying on the upper or lower Hashin-Shtrikman bounds, the change in effective modulus upon replacing the pore-fill and/or the mineral with another is not unique unless detailed information is available about the microstructure. The reason is that points falling between the bounds can be realized by an infinite number of different microgeometries. Each one transforms to a slightly different modulus upon substitution. We have also developed equations for the calculation of fluid and solid substitution of the mineral and the pore-fill material for bulk and shear moduli. Using laboratory measurements and numerical simulation data, we determined that the predictions of the embedded bound method describe the possible range of change in rock moduli upon substitution.
(Not) Leaving Turkmenistan? A Survey of Students from Turkmenistan at the American University of Central Asia:

University students from Turkmenistan find it increasingly difficult to study in their native country. As one option, some have traveled to the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) in Kyrgyzs...