cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Responses of the Pales Weevil to Natural and Synthetic Host Attractants

Hylobius pales (Herbst) responds to an attractant present in the cut pine stem. From observation of the weevil’s behavior toward the natural attractant, a laboratory bioassay was developed in which paired chemicals were placed in a choice chamber to determine their attractiveness to the weevils. Using extracts of stems of loblolly pine, Pintis taeda L., we found that the principal attractant occurs in the phloem and concluded that it may be a monoterpenoid. Bioassays of purified compounds, including some monoterpenoids, Showed several which were attractive, particularly eugenol, anethole, and d-α-pinene. The response to the last mentioned, which makes up a large proportion of pine oleoresin, may explain the attractiveness of the cut pine stem to the pales weevil.
TYPE 2 (SUBRETINAL) NEOVASCULARIZATION IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION ASSOCIATED WITH PURE RETICULAR PSEUDODRUSEN PHENOTYPE.

PURPOSE To report the association of pure type 2 neovascularization (NV) in age-related macular degeneration occurring almost exclusively in patients with reticular pseudodrusen. METHODS An observational retrospective cohort study of all eyes receiving antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy for newly diagnosed neovascular age-related macular degeneration by a single practitioner over a 6-year period. Only patients with treatment-naive, pure type 2 NV who also had either pre-neovascular imaging of the study eye or imaging of a nonneovascular fellow eye available to determine baseline characteristics including drusen type and choroidal thickness were incuded. RESULTS Of 694 patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, only 8 met the inclusion criteria with pure type 2 NV. Of these, 7 (88%) had exclusively reticular pseudodrusen (5 in the nonneovascular fellow eye, 2 in the study eye before developing NV). Six (75%) patients in the affected neovascular eye and 6 (75%) in the fellow nonneovascular eye had choroidal thickness <120 μm. Mean follow-up was 46 months (range, 3.0-63.3). Best-corrected vision improved from 20/89 (range, 20/30-20/796) at baseline to 20/60 (range, 20/20-20/399) at last follow-up. CONCLUSION Pure type 2 NV is rare in age-related macular degeneration, occurring almost exclusively in patients with reticular pseudodrusen and thin choroids.
A qualitative study of blood and marrow transplant patient experiences participating in art making and music listening

Abstract Purpose To explore patient experiences of engaging in art making or music listening while receiving treatment in a blood and marrow transplant clinic. Method Researchers recruited 25 individuals receiving blood and marrow transplant (BMT) treatment, 12 men and 13 women aged 22 to 74, from a Midwestern outpatient BMT clinic. Participants engaged in a painting activity or listened to music on an iPad using an internet music application for one hour. Researchers interviewed participants after the one-hour activity to gain insight into participants' perceptions of the art making or music listening experience. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and independently coded by members of the research team. Researchers met on several occasions to analyse codes and agree on emerging themes. Results Nine themes emerged from the data including, Engaging in Activity , Art and Music in Daily Life , Expression , Engaging with Equipment , Novelty , BMT Process , Activity Process , Social Support , and Living Situation . Participants enjoyed art making and music listening and found the activities beneficial during treatment. Conclusions Participants benefited from art making and music listening because these activities increased the variety of options available during treatment, allowed for self-expression, and could be done alone or with caregivers.
Nonvascularized toe proximal phalanx transfers in the treatment of Aphalangia

The indications for nonvascularized toe phalanx transfers are limited. Radiolucency in the region of the transferred physis does not necessarily indicate a functional growth plate. Older age is not a contraindication to toe phalanx transfers. The results of this procedure can be improved and information from experimental physeal transplantation may help the surgeon to improve technique.
Simulation of Closed Kinematic Chains in Realistic Environments Using Gazebo

Simulation is an integral part of the robo design process; it allows the designer to verify that the mechanical structure, sensors and software work together as intended. It can also serve as a collaboration platform for a team. Gazebo is a particularly attractive simulation platform as the physical behavior of the robot can be simulated in parallel with the ROS software that controls it. A lesser known feature of Gazebo is its ability to simulate closed kinematic chains. This is partly due to a lack of a well-established procedure for creating such simulations. This chapter describes in detail how robots with closed kinematic chains can be simulated in Gazebo. It explains how a robot model created with a computer-aided design (CAD) program such as SolidWorks can be exported to Gazebo so that closed kinematic chains are properly modeled, and how a realistic simulation environment can be generated. We provide detailed step-by-step examples that can be used by the reader to easily create new simulations using Gazebo and SolidWorks. SolidWorks was chosen as the CAD tool because it can partially export kinematic structures. Closed kinematic chains can then be relatively easily added to these exported structures so they can be used in Gazebo.
Alzheimer’s Noise

This is a time when newspapers, magazines, and TV pundits jump at the slightest chance of reporting Alzheimer’s-related stories that can capture national attention. This “haste without debate” often leads to a daily scattering of unfounded “breakthroughs,” “better understandings,” and “discoveries” that are never heard of again. Most of the attention-grabbing news coverage on Alzheimer’s continues to dispense false hope, confusion, and wildly misleading hype by featuring goofy medical claims that offer little or zero understanding of the complexity involved in this disease. Some claims border on the absurd, like the domestic fly serving as an Alzheimer’s model.
Epilogue: Secularism as Modern Secularity

In 1910, just four years after Holyoake’s death, the Hastings Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics included an entry on Secularism, but one that fell under the heading of Atheism. Within the subheading of Secularism, the 1910 edition rather sloppily announced the equivalence of Holyoake’s and Bradlaugh’s Secularism on the grounds of atheism, and professed both to be mistaken and problematic because they had relied on negation rather than the positing of distinct values. While Holyoake, Bradlaugh, and company surely had reasons for their hostilities and vituperations, they were essentially locked in a position of denunciation from which nothing positive could emerge.1 Thus the revision of Secularism was well underway and Holyoake’s particular contribution, in fact his construction of Secularism itself, was effectively erased and overwritten, as the two currents of Secularism were conflated.
Postoperative Care of the Liver Transplant Recipient

Liver transplantation for both acute and chronic liver failure results in excellent outcomes. Perhaps more than with any other surgical program, graft and patient outcomes for liver transplantation reflect the combined efforts of several specialties. The success stems from a multidisciplinary approach with close involvement of gastroenterologists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, and intensivists. This chapter will review topics related to the immediate care of the liver transplant patient in the intensive care unit (ICU). Existing evidence on hemodynamic monitoring, respiratory failure, neurologic management, electrolyte and glucose correction, coagulation management, systemic immunosuppression, graft function and rejection, and technical problems will be reviewed. The chapter will conclude with brief mention of long-term complications related to recurrence of disease that may lead to future ICU admissions.
Shape and Mechanical Control of Poly(ethylene oxide) Based Polymersome with Polyoxometalates via Hydrogen Bond.

Polymersomes are self-assembled vesicles of amphiphilic block copolymers and have been explored for wide applications from drug delivery to micro/nanoreactors. As polymersomes are soft and highly deformable, their shape instability due to osmolarity difference across polymer membranes and low elasticity could conversely limit their practical use. Instead of selecting particular polymer chemical reactions to enhance the mechanical properties, we have employed inorganic polyoxometalate (POM) clusters as simple physical cross-linkers to control the shape and mechanical stability of polymersomes in aqueous suspensions. Robust spherical shape with enhanced elastic and bending moduli of POM-dressed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) based polymersomes is achieved. We have accounted for the hydrogen bonding between POM and PEO blocks for the adsorption and stabilization of POMS on polymersomes, whose interaction strength could also be tuned by mixing solvents of hydrogen bond donors or receptors with water. The stimuli-...
Is utilizing themes an effective scheme? Choice overload and categorization effects within an extensive online choice environment

Abstract Computer websites are often environments where users are presented with many choices, potentially leading to “choice overload”. Studies have shown that when the number of choices cannot be reduced, categorization reduces choice overload, but the results are mixed as to whether different types of categorization affect how users experience choice overload. University course catalogs are online environments where there are a large number of potential options to choose from but class choices cannot be removed to create a smaller overall set. However, categorizing the large set of options may help ameliorate the effects of overload. We tested taxonomic (e.g. Computer Science) against thematic categorization (e.g. Choosing a Career) and found that categorization had two effects: taxonomic (vs. thematic) categorizing decreased choice overload, but taxonomic categorization also led to individuals browsing on the site for a shorter duration. This effect was particularly pronounced for those who were familiar with the choice environment. We discuss implications for these findings, as website owners may decide to utilize thematic categories to extend browsing time, but this may be at the cost of making the choice experience more difficult.
Theoretical Study of the Self-Assembly and Optical Properties of 1D Chains of Magnetic–Plasmonic Nanoparticles

A study is presented of the self-assembly and optical behavior of one-dimensional (1D) chains of colloidal magnetic–plasmonic core–shell Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles. The superparamagnetic core enables adaptive magnetophoretic control of the particles and provides interparticle coupling that drives the assembly process. The plasmonic shell provides unique optical and photothermal properties of assembled structures. Monte Carlo analysis and full-wave field theory are combined to investigate the self-assembly and optical properties of 1D chains, respectfully. The Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the particle volume fraction and surface charge can be tailored to control the formation, aggregation, and spacing of chains. The optical analysis shows that as a chain forms its absorption spectrum red shifts and asymptotically converges to that of an infinite chain. In addition, strong field enhancement occurs in the gaps between neighboring particles at plasmon resonance, while photothermal transduction is focu...
The Politics of International Testing

In recent years, an increasing number of countries have participated in cross-national assessments in education (CNAs), but their impact remains underexplored. We argue that CNA participation increases the capacity and motivation of policymakers to implement improvements in education through mechanisms at the elite, domestic, and transnational levels. We find evidence consistent with our propositions using a mixed-method approach, utilizing: 1. a panel dataset covering all CNAs and all countries in the international system; 2. an original survey of 77 education officials directly responsible for the planning and implementation of CNAs in 46 countries; 3. personal interviews with 48 officials in target states, assessment agencies, and donor agencies. Even after accounting for potential self-selection, CNA participation is associated with increases in net secondary enrollment, particularly for girls, and education aid inflows. Qualitative and quantitative evidence also suggests that CNA participation accelerates education reforms. The empirical results consistently support our prediction that CNA participation has a meaningful impact on education policy and outcomes.
Redox State Determines the Differential Effects of Redox-Cycle Compounds in Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer Cells

Resistance to platinum-based drugs (i.e., carboplatin) is a major clinical challenge in the current treatment of serous ovarian cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlying resistance are not yet fully clarified. In this study, we investigated whether the differences in redox state (levels of antioxidants and ROS) is correlated with carboplatin resistant phenotype of ovarian cancer cells (OV90C). We found that OV90C cells exhibited an oxidized redox state with a high level of H2O2 but a low level of GPxs and reduced form of thioredoxin 1. Furthermore, OV90C cells displayed an increase of O2 consumption and oxidative phosphorylation activity when compared to their parental cancer cells (OV90) and immortalized ovarian cells (hTER7). Next, we used MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+(MnP), a redox- active MnSOD mimetic to investigate the dependence of ovarian cancer cell growth on the redox state. We found that OV90C cells preferentially uptake MnP more than OV90 cells, resulting in a greater inhibition of cell growth in OV90C cells versus OV90 cells. Combination treatment of MnP and carboplatin enhanced the killing effect of carboplatin in both OV90C cells and OV90 cells when compared to either MnP or carboplatin treatment alone. Moreover, MnP protected hTER7 cells from carboplatin-induced cell death. Mechanistically, the carboplatin enhanced redox cycle ability of MnP; which led to the induction of H2O2 levels and reduction of GSH/GSSG ratio, in ovarian cancer cells but not in normal cells. Thus, increasing of oxidized redox state sensitized ovarian cancer cells to carboplatin, especially carboplatin resistant cells. In conclusion, our data provide evidence that the oxidized redox state plays an important role in carboplatin resistant ovarian cancer cells survival and pushing ROS levels beyond their antioxidant capacity might serve as a novel treatment strategy for ovarian cancer patients with resistance toward platinum-based drugs.
Comparison of partial credit and mastery assessment on student learning and retention

For several years, the faculty in the Mechanical Engineering program at Behrend have been using a modified mastery grading system in three sophomore-level courses: Statics, Strength of Materials, and Thermodynamics. In this system students are given up to three opportunities to solve each problem correctly. A solution must be essentially correct (minor errors only) in order for points to be awarded, otherwise a retake is required on a similar problem with the points awarded for a correct solution reduced with each retake. Although the effectiveness of this system has been evaluated qualitatively through student and faculty opinion, there has been no performance-based evaluation of the difference in student learning between the mastery system and the traditional partial credit system. This paper describes the results of a comparative study conducted during the spring 2015 semester on four sections of Strength of Materials (SOM). Students in each section (117 total students) of the SOM class were divided into a “mastery” group or a “partial credit” group such that there was no statistical difference between the GPA's of the two groups. Both groups took the same five initial exams during the semester, with the mastery group exams graded as described above and the partial credit group exams graded using a partial credit system. The partial credit group was not able to retake any of the exams. All students took a common final exam, which was graded on a partial credit basis, and the results of the two groups were compared. The final exam consisted of ten concept questions, five fundamentals problems, and three typical exam problems with all problems graded using partial credit. The results of this study showed that there was no significant difference in the total exam score between the two groups, nor was there a difference on the concept questions, fundamentals problems, and the first two typical exam problems. The students in the mastery group did perform better on the third typical exam problem (p-value 0.03). Based on these results it appears that mastery grading does not improve student comprehension of fundamental concepts, but that repeated practice does make them better able to solve specific problems. Sixty-two of these students were enrolled in a course for the fall 2015 semester which requires SOM as a prerequisite. The students were fortuitously evenly distributed as to GPA and the exam method from the previous course. During the first week of the fall semester, a prerequisite quiz consisting of the concept questions and fundamentals problems from the spring SOM final was administered, and the results from the two groups were compared. Based on this study, there is not enough evidence to indicate that student recall of material is impacted by the grading system.
Formulation and computation of dynamic, interface-compatible Whitney complexes in three dimensions

Abstract A discrete De Rham complex enables compatible, structure-preserving discretizations for a broad range of partial differential equations problems. Such discretizations can correctly reproduce the physics of interface problems, provided the grid conforms to the interface. However, large deformations, complex geometries, and evolving interfaces makes generation of such grids difficult. We develop and demonstrate two formally equivalent approaches that, for a given background mesh, dynamically construct an interface-conforming discrete De Rham complex. Both approaches start by dividing cut elements into interface-conforming subelements but differ in how they build the finite element basis on these subelements. The first approach discards the existing non-conforming basis of the parent element and replaces it by a dynamic set of degrees of freedom of the same kind. The second approach defines the interface-conforming degrees of freedom on the subelements as superpositions of the basis functions of the parent element. These approaches generalize the Conformal Decomposition Finite Element Method (CDFEM) and the extended finite element method with algebraic constraints (XFEM-AC), respectively, across the De Rham complex.
Structure-Function of Two Membrane Protein Systems Involved in Transfer of Electrical Charge

Structure-function relationships are presented for two membrane proteins or protein complexes that are involved in the transfer of electrical charge through or across biological membranes: (i) the cytochrome b 6 f complex and its subunit, cytochrome f, that transfer electrons on a sub-millisecond time scale from the lipophilic quinol to the photosystem I reaction center in oxygenic photosynthetic membranes. Cytochrome f carries out one step in this transfer by oxidizing the membrane-bound iron-sulfur [2Fe-2S] protein in the complex and reducing its soluble electron acceptor, plastocyanin. (ii) Colicin El is a toxin-like bactericidal protein that forms a voltage-gated ion channel with a single channel conductance of 106–107 ions/channel/sec in the E. coli cytoplasmic membrane.
The Gray War of Our Time: Information Warfare and the Kremlin’s Weaponization of Russian-Language Digital News

The rise of hybrid warfare has led the Russian government to actively develop its information warfare capabilities, including the weaponization of digital media. To garner the support of Russian sp...
Near-future temperature reduces Mg/Ca ratios in the major skeletal components of the common subtropical sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus

Abstract Shallow-water marine invertebrates living near the upper limits of their thermal tolerances are uniquely susceptible to climate warming. This is particularly the case for species that occur in geographic regions where larval dispersal or adult migration to cooler waters is not an option. This scenario aptly describes populations of the seagrass-associated sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus inhabiting the northern Gulf of Mexico where northward movement is restricted by a coastline. In the present study, we exposed juvenile L. variegatus to chronic ambient (26 °C) and predicted near-future (30 °C) temperature treatments for 90 days. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) was employed to determine the Mg/Ca ratios of the spines, test, and Aristotle's lantern of individuals sub-sampled at 30, 60, and 90 days. We found that while individuals grew at similar rates, Mg/Ca ratios in all skeletal components were overall significantly lower in individuals held at 30 °C than at 26 °C.
Writing Beyond the Curriculum: Latin American Themes Spur Innovative Pedagogy

This brief paper describes a series of initiatives at one university in the Midwest, where faculty combined a humanities-driven focus on Latin America with our STEM-heavy curriculum, creating new courses and programs for students in all majors. The primary goal was increased cultural and communicative understanding among our engineering majors through opportunities for in-depth humanities-based study, while increasing engagement with international issues and experiences among our humanities majors. Faculty from humanities and STEM disciplines collaborated to integrate humanities pedagogy with existing programs in Latin America in order to improve cultural understanding and communication skills in undergraduate students across all majors. We met these challenges through new offerings of culturally-focused coursework, academics-focused study-abroad trips, cross-disciplinary courses, and experiential learning activities.
Neonatal cholestasis and hepatosplenomegaly caused by congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type 1: A case report.

Neonatal cholestasis and hepatosplenomegaly caused by congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type 1: A case report
Neurocognitive toxicity from radiation therapy for brain metastases

Brain metastases are the most common intracranial tumors, with an incidence rate ranging from 7 to 14 per 100,000. Both the disease process itself and its treatments can be associated with debilitating and life-altering neurocognitive adverse effects. The treatment of brain metastases involves a multidisciplinary team that aims to maximize the benefits and minimize the toxicities of treatment, which may include surgical resection, radiation therapy (stereotactic radiosurgery or whole-brain radiation therapy), and/or systemic therapy. Additionally, strategies have been investigated to prevent and treat these toxicities, such as stereotactic radiosurgery, hippocampal avoidance whole-brain radiation therapy, and “neuroprotective” drugs, respectively. In order to better detect and measure treatment toxicity, efforts have also been deployed in tracking neurocognitive changes consistently in patients with brain metastases.
Privacy on their terms

Respecting participants' privacy rights is a vital component of research ethics, but conventional practices in this area may falter when research focuses on groups whose experiences and concerns diverge from those deemed normative, or takes place in novel environments where information flows and functions in unexpected ways. This article examines the specific example of research with young people in digital social spaces, discussing how online youth communities construct and maintain privacy and arguing that choices regarding research practices should be made in response to contextualized understandings of the perspectives, practices, and experiences at play in specific digital spaces.
Soft and Ion‐Conducting Materials in Bioelectronics: From Conducting Polymers to Hydrogels

Bioelectronics devices that directly interface with cells and tissue have applications in neural and cardiac stimulation and recording, electroceuticals, and brain machine interfaces for prostheses. The interface between bioelectronic devices and biological tissue is inherently challenging due to the mismatch in both mechanical properties (hard vs soft) and charge carriers (electrons vs ions). In addition to conventional metals and silicon, new materials have bridged this interface, including conducting polymers, carbon-based nanomaterials, as well as ion-conducting polymers and hydrogels. This review provides an update on advances in soft bioelectronic materials for current and future therapeutic applications. Specifically, this review focuses on soft materials that can conduct both electrons and ions, and also deliver drugs and small molecules. The future opportunities and emerging challenges in the field are also highlighted.
Direct Listing vs. IPO: The Anatomy of the Going-Public Market

Direct listing (DL) decouples capital raising from going public and bypasses underwriters. Theory and evidence from U.S. and U.K. markets show that (1) DL and IPO markets attract different types of firms. DL innovation caters to later-stage firms’ demand for public trading. (2) When adverse selection is severe, regulations are essential in shaping DL market participation and outcomes. (3) After DL innovation, firms and intermediaries enjoy welfare gains, while public investors may face higher risks. The results imply that better-developed private-capital and secondary-trading markets motivate DL innovation; imposing certification policies for investor protection promotes firm entry in the DL market.
Enhancing air-dehumidification performance of polyimide membranes by generating hydrophilic Poly(amic acid) domains using partial hydrolysis

Abstract Membrane-based air-dehumidification has been considered as one of the most promising technologies for the next-generation heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Though attractive, polymeric membranes suffer from limitation between their H2O/N2 separation performance (i.e., H2O/N2 separation factor and H2O permeability) and their mechanical stability. Herein, we propose a facile and effective strategy, controlled partial hydrolysis, to improve the H2O/N2 separation performance of polyimide (PI) membranes while maintaining their mechanical stability. Controlled hydrolysis turned the PI membranes partially into poly (amic acid) (PAA)/PI membranes, exhibiting an asymmetric configuration with the inner layers more hydrolyzed. Interestingly, the hydrolysis in a highly concentrated NaOH solution led to formation of localized domains that were hydrolyzed (i.e., PAA domains). The localized hydrolysis of mechanically stable PI membranes led to formation of hydrophilic PAA channels embedded in the PI, thereby enhancing H2O/N2 separation performance (i.e., H2O permeability from ~6400 Barrer to ~11,000 Barrer and H2O/N2 separation factor from ~190 to ~ 320) while preserving the mechanical strength of the membranes.
Correcting iron deficiency anemia with iron dextran alters the serum metabolomic profile of the infant Rhesus Monkey.

Background The effects of infantile iron deficiency anemia (IDA) extend beyond hematological indices and include short- and long-term adverse effects on multiple cells and tissues. IDA is associated with an abnormal serum metabolomic profile, characterized by altered hepatic metabolism, lowered NAD flux, increased nucleoside levels, and a reduction in circulating dopamine levels. Objectives The objective of this study was to determine whether the serum metabolomic profile is normalized after rapid correction of IDA using iron dextran injections. Methods Blood was collected from iron-sufficient (IS; n = 10) and IDA (n = 12) rhesus infants at 6 months of age. IDA infants were then administered iron dextran and vitamin B via intramuscular injections at weekly intervals for 2 to 8 weeks. Their hematological and metabolomic statuses were evaluated following treatment and compared with baseline and a separate group of age-matched IS infants (n = 5). Results Serum metabolomic profiles assessed at baseline and after treatment via HPLC/MS using isobaric standards identified 654 quantifiable metabolites. At baseline, 53 metabolites differed between IS and IDA infants. Iron treatment restored traditional hematological indices, including hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume, into the normal range, but the metabolite profile in the IDA group after iron treatment was markedly altered, with 323 metabolites differentially expressed when compared with an infant's own baseline profile. Conclusions Rapid correction of IDA with iron dextran resulted in extensive metabolic changes across biochemical pathways indexing the liver function, bile acid release, essential fatty acid production, nucleoside release, and several neurologically important metabolites. The results highlight the importance of a cautious approach when developing a route and regimen of iron repletion to treat infantile IDA.
Stereotypes in Attributions About Women's Gender-Based Mistreatment.

Using an intersectional framework, we assessed how gender stereotypes applied to women with different race and class identities who experienced gender-based mistreatment. Thematic content analysis ...
Creating Culturally Supportive Settings That Foster Literacy Development: Guidance for SLPs

Purpose The purpose of our tutorial is to provide a set of fundamental, research-based guidelines for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who want to begin the process of creating culturally suppor...
Coupled and Characteristic Modes of a Wideband Slot Antenna Using FEKO

Coupled Mode Theory (CMT) is a classic model that addresses many diverse problems in physics and electrical engineering. Although CMT is well-established in areas such as directional coupler design, its significance in antenna engineering is less well-recognized. Recently, Characteristic Mode Analysis (CMA) has shown how CMT quantitatively models a wide variety of multi-mode patch structures. In this paper, we extend these ideas to a double-tuned slot antenna utilizing some unique features of the method of moments code FEKO. The modeled slot antenna has a stable radiation pattern throughout its 50% impedance bandwidth. CMA decomposition indicates the antenna consists of two resonators: the slot and a lumped LC resonator that represents the feed probe. The two are electromagnetically coupled to produce broad impedance bandwidth. An equivalent circuit whose values are derived directly from the CMA results is given.
The Relationships between Patients' Perceptions of Nurse Caring Behaviors, Nurses' Perceptions of Nurse Caring Behaviors and Patient Satisfaction in the Emergency Department

Background: Approximately 100 million people seek care in Emergency Departments yearly, which can be overwhelming for many Emergency Department (ED) nurses. Thus, caring for these patients and meeting their needs is challenging for ED nurses. It is the patients’ perceptions of the first caring encounters in the ED that can have a significant impact on patient satisfaction. Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviors, nurses’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviors, and patient satisfaction in the ED. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that examined the relationships between patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviors, nurses’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviors, and patient satisfaction in the ED. Eighty-six nurse/patient dyads participated in this study. Nurse participants completed the Nurse’s Background Information questionnaire and the Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 (CBI-24) (Wu, Larrabee, & Putnam, 2006). Patient participants completed the Patient Background Information questionnaire; the Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 (CBI-24) (Wu, Larrabee, & Putnam, 2006); and the Patient Satisfaction Instrument (PSI) (Hinshaw & Atwood, 1982). Results: Data collected and analyzed indicated that there was a positive relationship between patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviors and patient satisfaction in the Emergency Department. However, patient satisfaction was statistically significant and negatively associated (β= -.41; p<.001) for the categories of CBI dyad difference scores for the group of nurses who rated themselves more caring than patients rated the nurses. In addition, patient satisfaction scores were not statistically significant for nurse gender, marital status, ethnicity, professional education, employment status, or ED experience. Additionally, there were statistically significant differences (p<.001) between nurses’ and patients’ perceptions on the subscales of the CBI. These differences were noted on the assurance and connectedness subscales. Discussion: This study indicated that patient satisfaction was significantly related to the patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviors in the ED. The results of this study may help ED nurses meet the need and expectations of ED patients and deliver individualized patient care.
Genes for plant abiotic stress.

Abiotic stresses caused by drought, salinity, toxic metals, temperature extremes, and nutrient poor soils are among the major constraints to plant growth and crop production worldwide. While crop breeding strategies to improve yields have progressed, a better understanding of the genetic and biological mechanisms underpinning stress adaptation is needed.n Genes For Plant Abiotic Stress npresents the latest research on recently examined genes and alleles and guides discussion of the genetic and physiological determinants that will be important for crop improvement in the future.
Municipal Corporations, Homeowners, and the Benefit View of the Property Tax

In combination with municipal zoning and the "vote with your feet" discipline proposed by Charles Tiebout, the local property tax is both a benefit tax and an efficient tax, at least when compared to statewide or federal taxes used to fund the same services. To pursue this claim, I modify the Tiebout model by adding to it something Tiebout himself wanted to avoid: politics. The politics I add is not that of the political science department, but of the finance department. In my view, homeowners are the major stockholders - the risk-bearing, residual claimants - of modern municipal corporations. As scores of capitalization studies show, the good and bad things that local governments do affect the value of homeowners' largest asset. Because their risks cannot be diversified like those of stockholders of business corporations, homeowners are especially watchful of municipal affairs. They want local officials - their board of directors - to choose the mix of spending, taxes, and land-use regulations that maximizes the value of their homes. This choice has the benign effect of making the local property tax into a fee for service. Voters will accept an increase in this fee if the value of the service redounds to their net benefit. Even homeowners without children will be interested in efficient funding for local public schools, since prospective buyers have school-age children. The declining quality of public schools in states that have centralized their financing and attenuated the local tax and spending connection is consistent with this view.
Speckle noise reduction of 1-look SAR imagery

Speckle noise is inherent to synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. Since the degradation of the image due to this noise results in uncertainties in the interpretation of the scene and in a loss of apparent resolution, it is desirable to filter the image to reduce this noise. In this paper, an adaptive algorithm based on the calculation of the local statistics around a pixel is applied to 1-look SAR imagery. The filter adapts to the nonstationarity of the image statistics since the size of the blocks is very small compared to that of the image. The performance of the filter is measured in terms of the equivalent number of looks (ENL) of the filtered image and the resulting resolution degradation. The results are compared to those obtained from different techniques applied to similar data. The local adaptive filter (LAF) significantly increases the ENL of the final image. The associated loss of resolution is also lower than that for other commonly used speckle reduction techniques.
Parallel Pencil-Beam Redefinition Algorithm

The growing sophistication in radiation treatment strategies requires the utilization of increasingly accurate, but computationally intense, dose algorithms, such as the electron pencil-beam redefinition algorithm (PBRA). The sequential implementation of the PBRA is in production use at the MD Anderson Cancer center. The PBRA is difficult to parallelize because of the large amounts of data involved that is accessed in an irregular pattern taking varying amounts of time in each iteration. A case study of the parallelization of the PBRA code on a Beowulf cluster using PVM and PThreads is presented. The solution uses a non-trivial way of exchanging minimal amount of data between processes to allow a natural partitioning to work. Multi-threading is used to cut down on the communication times between CPUs in the same box. Finally, an adaptive load-balancing technique is used to further improve the speedup.
Time Present and Time Past: A Duration Analysis of IMF Program Spells

The programs of the International Monetary Fund were originally designed to provide short-term assistance to countries implementing policies to address balance of payments disequilibria. In recent decades, however, the Fund has instituted new facilities with longer time horizons, while many developing countries have adopted consecutive programs. As a result, the length of time spent by countries in IMF programs has grown. This paper analyzes the IMF program spells for a group of emerging economies over the period of 1982 to 2000. Duration models are used to investigate the time dependence of the failure rate of the spells and the factors that affect the duration of program spells. The hazard ratio of program spells has a non-monotonic shape, first rising and then falling over time. A spell's duration is independent of a previous spell length or the number of previous spells. Program duration is extended for those countries with lower percapita income, exports concentrated in primary goods, landlocked geographic status and autocratic regimes. Governments that are ideologically divided have shorter spells, which may reflect a breakdown in governance.
Polyphagy complicates conservation biological control that targets generalist predators

Summary 1 While evidence suggests that undisturbed refuges within agricultural fields conserve natural enemies, few studies have examined whether pest control does actually improve following predator conservation. When the targets of conservation are generalists, polyphagy may complicate the impact of the conserved predators on agricultural pests. 2 We examined the use of beetle banks to conserve predatory beetles for the control of pest Diptera. Locally, the community of predatory beetles included several species of small carabid and staphylinid beetles ( 1·5 cm), Pterostichus melanarius, which rarely eats fly eggs but does eat smaller beetles. 3 Predator beetle activity densities, but not rates of fly egg predation, increased in fields including beetle banks. A series of field experiments was conducted to examine whether two types of polyphagy, intraguild predation and feeding on non-target prey, could be preventing increased egg predation following successful predator conservation. 4 The putative intraguild predator Pterostichus melanarius reduced activity densities of smaller beetles, and thus weakened fly egg predation. The strength of fly suppression increased with increasing densities of small beetles in the absence of Pterostichus melanarius, but not when aphid alternative prey were readily available. In the presence of abundant aphids, egg predation rates did not increase at higher small beetle densities. 5 Synthesis and applications. Overall, our results suggest that both intraguild predation and the presence of alternative prey could limit conservation biological control that targets generalist predators. Thus, higher predator densities will not necessarily lead to improved pest control. Ecologists must consider the impact of predator manipulations at multiple trophic levels when assessing the success or failure of conservation biological control.
Teaching Time Value of Money Using an Excel Retirement Model.

The time value of money (TVM) is required knowledge for all business students. It is traditionally taught in finance and accounting classes for use in various applications in the business curriculum. These concepts are also very useful in real life situations such as calculating the amount to save for retirement. This paper details a retirement model that can be built during class to teach TVM. While traditional teaching methods give small pieces of the TVM picture, then exercises to reinforce that partial knowledge, this model incorporates many TVM techniques into one Excel modeling exercise. The model incorporates both TVM functions that are included in Excel and other formulas that must be entered into Excel by the student modeler. Unlike some other articles that focus on how much should be saved annually assuming a constant salary, this exercise focuses on a percentage of income to be saved. The model also addresses an assumed growth factor in the salary and the issue of inflation. This modeling tool is presented to adults in graduate level classes, so it incorporates the fact that they might already have some savings coming into this retirement planning exercise. This method of teaching TVM has several objectives. Primarily, the exercise contributes to the learning of TVM concepts and techniques. It also shows how the equations modeled here can be used to solve retirement planning questions, while contributing to the personal financial literacy of students, and improving model building skills in Excel.
NAMS: network automated modeler and simulator

Discrete-event simulation has been widely used to analyze communication networks, due to the increased number of networks in existence, and the inability of mathematical modeling to handle their greater complexity. Although there is a large number of simulation packages designed specifically for modeling communication systems with a point-and-click GUI for entering network models and parameters, large network modeling involving many objects, interconnections, and regular structures can be a very tedious and error prone exercise. We present NAMS, an automated approach for communication network modeling, simulation, and performance evaluation employing commercial simulation tools and programming interfaces. NAMS receives the configuration of the network to be modeled or simulated in a specific format, uses the built-in models for the key hardware devices and protocols in the network simulation tool, puts these models together to form a high level network model representing the received network configuration, compiles the network model into an executable simulation, generates the simulation environment, generates an appropriate performance evaluation methodology, executes the simulation, and reports the performance indices back to the system operator.
Oncological outcomes after robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy: long‐term follow‐up in 4803 patients

Objective To evaluate oncological outcomes in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) at a high-volume tertiary centre with focus on biochemical recurrence (BCR); previous studies on oncological outcomes for patients undergoing RARP for prostate cancer are limited to small series. Patients and Methods In all, 5152 consecutive patients underwent RARP from 2001 to 2010; 4803 patients comprised the study cohort after exclusions. BCR was defined as a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of ≥0.2 ng/mL with a confirmatory value. BCR-free survival (BCRFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox hazards regression models were generated. Results The mean preoperative PSA level was 6.1 ng/mL, pathological Gleason grade and stage were ≥7 in 68% and ≥pT3 in 34% of patients. There was BCR in 470 patients (9.8%), 31 patients developed metastatic disease (0.7%) and 13 patients died from prostate cancer (0.3%) during a mean (range) follow-up of 34.6 (1–116.7) months. Actuarial 8-year BCRFS, MFS and CSS were 81%, 98.5% and 99.1%, respectively. In patients with node-positive disease, actuarial 5-year BCRFS, MFS, and CSS were 26%, 82%, and 97%. For organ-confined disease, predictors of BCR included pathology Gleason grade (primary Gleason 5 vs 3, hazard ratio [HR] 5.52, P = 0.018; Gleason 4 vs 3, HR 1.97, P = 0.001), preoperative PSA level (10–20 vs ≤10 ng/mL, HR 2.38, P = 0.001), and surgical margin status (positive vs negative, HR 3.84, P < 0.001) Conclusions RARP appears to confer effective long-term biochemical control. To our knowledge, this is the largest report of oncological outcomes in a RARP series to date.
Calculus of sequential normal compactness in variational analysis

Abstract In this paper we study some properties of sets, set-valued mappings, and extended-real-valued functions unified under the name of “sequential normal compactness.” These properties automatically hold in finite-dimensional spaces, while they play a major role in infinite-dimensional variational analysis. In particular, they are essential for calculus rules involving generalized differential constructions, for stability and metric regularity results and their broad applications, for necessary optimality conditions in constrained optimization and optimal control, etc. This paper contains principal results ensuring the preservation of sequential normal compactness properties under various operations over sets, set-valued mappings, and functions.
Pyridine Nucleotide Pattern and Reduction Charge in Wheat Seedlings with Special Regard to Different Photosynthetic Conditions

Summary The pyridine nucleotide pattern and the reduction charges in wheat seedlings are described with regard to different photosynthetic conditions. The charges were examined during ontogenesis, after interruption of photosynthesis and under kinetin or DCMU treatment. The induced changes in catabolism or anabolism led to a specific pattern of pyridine nucleotides. The anabolic reduction charge remained relative constant after a long-term interruption of photosynthesis in the range of 0.70 in comparison with the control, but it changed during a short-term interruption. Independent of the duration of interruption the catabolic reduction charge value remained also constant in the range of 0.07–0.09 (7-day-old seedlings). DCMU and kinetin treatment did not change the redox state between the pyridine nucleotides. Interconversions between the pyridine nucleotide pools and the hexose monophosphate shunt are discussed as compensating mechanisms in order to maintain the redox level.