cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress Buster: Introducing Quiet Time for Neonatal Nurses

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program Quiet Time was developed in this level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as a strategy to reduce stress among the staff. Due to the highly technical nature of this unit and the complexity of the patient population, staff experienced high levels of stress that was exhibited by poor morale, absenteeism, and poor interpersonal relationships in the work environment. To alleviate the effect that this highly stressful environment was having on staff, mindful meditation was introduced as a strategy. The purpose of mindful meditation is to allow the staff to be self‐aware of escalating stress levels and provide techniques for stress reduction that are healing and restorative. This unique and innovative approach provided the outlet the staff needed. Proposed Change Reduce the stress levels of the NICU staff by using mindful meditation as a unique and innovative strategy and provide the opportunity for Quiet Time to accomplish stress reduction, enhance the bedside care (calm nurse, calm infant), and improve the way nurses handle stressful situations in the unit. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation In 2009, NICU staff indicated that they were suffering from high‐stress levels that were evidenced by poor morale, absenteeism, and poor interpersonal relationships in the work environment. A program was developed to relieve stress among staff using a holistic approach. Personnel skilled in holistic strategies were identified. Staff members volunteered to spearhead the development of a program that came to be known as Quiet Time. Program leaders had varying degrees of experience and skill in meditation. One leader further developed the necessary skills by becoming a meditation specialist. Quiet Time was structured as 15‐minute sessions, which were repeated immediately back‐to‐back to maximize staff attendance. During the session, lighting was dimmed and aromatherapy, guided imagery, and soft bell sounds were used. Techniques focused on abdominal breathing and respiration control. Progress was monitored by a series of questions about stress levels. Before the session, staff self‐rate their stress level using a Likert scale. This was repeated at the end of the session to gauge the effect meditation had on the participant. Data collected since the inception of the program have shown on average, a 72% reduction in stress levels. Implications for Nursing Practice Quiet Time for neonatal nurses reduces the stress level of staff exhibited as poor morale, absenteeism, and poor interpersonal relationships in the work environment and, therefore, affects patient care.
Order of difficulty of suggestions during hypnosis.

Abstract This study tests the hypothesis that successful response to suggestion during hypnosis predisposes to further successful response, but failure leads to subsequent failure. The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility was administered to 2 groups of 51 volunteer students. For one group, 8 of the 12 items were administered in the order easy-to-difficult; for the second group, in the order difficult-to-easy. Total and 8-item mean scores, and frequency distributions, did not differ significantly between groups. Except for the item measuring posthypnotic amnesia, item difficulties for the 2 groups did not differ significantly. Although the difficult-to-easy group was more amnesic, the 2 groups recalled a similar number of additional items when amnesia was “lifted.” The block of 4 easier items was relatively easier when preceded by a block of 4 harder items and, similarly, the harder items were relatively less difficult if preceded by a block of easier items. The magnitude of this effect was smal...
Myasthenia gravis associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III infection

Abstract A 15-year-old boy is described with myasthenia gravis, hemophilia A, positive HTLV-III serology, anti-thyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibodies, and laboratory evidence of altered cell-mediated immunity. Treatment with pyridostigmine produced dramatic clinical improvement. The results of this patient raise the possibility of myasthenia gravis as the sole or presenting clinical manifestation of infection with HTLV-III.
Monitoring vitamin B6 treatment of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis with hemoglobin and ferritin

Monitoring vitamin B6 treatment of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis with hemoglobin and ferritin
Training protocols for multi-user MIMO wireless LANs

In this paper, we investigate the training problem of wireless local area networks (WLANs) with downlink multi-user multiple input multiple output (DL MU MIMO) capability. We extend the 802.11 MAC protocol and propose a few training protocols at the MAC layer to support DL MU MIMO. We provide a capacity analysis based on measurement results from an 802.11n systems, evaluate the overhead of these training protocols, and compare the performance of DL MU MIMO with that of a beam-forming (BF) based approach. Through simulation studies, we find that at high SNR and with implicit training, the DL MU MIMO mechanism provides significant performance gain over the BF based approach. Furthermore, our capacity analysis and simulation study also show that it is critical to define appropriate training intervals based on antenna configuration, channel mobility, and CSI feedback overhead.
Observations of Isotropic Interstellar Pick-up Ions at 11 and 17 AU from New Horizons

We report new observations by the Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) instrument on the New Horizons spacecraft of an energy-per-charge (E/q) spectrum of interstellar pick-up ions (PUIs) from an unprecedented heliocentric distance of 17 AU. This E/q spectrum is fit well by an isotropic PUI distribution function combined with the detailed response of the SWAP instrument. In contrast to earlier work, we are also able to fit an isotropic PUI model to an E/q spectrum measured by SWAP at 11.3 AU by explicitly including two additional effects. These are (1) the E/q-dependent geometric factor of SWAP, which increases with decreasing E/q owing to effects associated with the post-acceleration of particles exiting the electrostatic analyzer portion of the instrument; and (2) a solar wind distribution, the model spectrum of which contributes significantly to the low-E/q part of the overall model owing, presumably, to secondary particles produced within the instrument.
Enriching the meaningfulness of work through positive organisational behaviour

This paper explores the relationship between Positive Organisational Behaviour (POB) and performance in the workplace. Multiple critical factors that make organisations and their members flourish and prosper in especially humane and extraordinary ways are explored. One of the key components of this paper is to identify factors that encourage a good life for individuals and organisations and enable employees to be at their best at work. Issues such as works as a source of happiness, the relevance of work to a person's purpose in life, and building an organisation culture to support a positive environment are addressed.
State of the Art Reviews: Intervening to Improve Outcomes for Adolescent Mothers and Their Children

Adolescent births have declined substantially in the past 15 years especially with the increase in use of effective contraception by young women. Longitudinal data have shown that previously identified disadvantages of early parenting for young women particularly those from communities with high rates of poverty may not be substantial. There are indications that higher order births carry a much greater burden than do first births to females younger than 20 years. For those interested in minimizing the burden for these young women interventions to prevent second births are important. Studies have looked at how best to provide care to these women and infants and how to reduce rates of higher order births. These programs provide ideas on factors that can help identify those at greatest risk for second births and give models for working with young mothers to maximize career and life chances. Particular attention should be paid to contraception use infant stimulation school and work participation postpartum depression and breastfeeding when working with adolescent mothers. (authors)
Comparison of cast positions by using four face-bows

The positions that the maxillary right and left first molars occupy when a maxillary cast is mounted in the three-dimensional space of a semiadjustable articulator (Hanau H2) were studied. Mountings were made by using four face-bows, the Hanau Kinematic Face-bow, the Hanau Facia-bow, the Hanau 159 Earpiece Face-bow, and the Hanau Twirl Earpiece Face-bow. A kinematically determined hinge-axis was used arbitrarily as the baseline for comparisons among the three other bows. Deviations from the baseline were measured along the X, Y, and Z axes by using a contour meter (Fig. 1). The deviations showed great variability (Table I), and because maxillary casts are mounted in relation to anatomic landmarks that differ from subject to subject, it was not possible to establish clinical superiority of one face-bow over another.
Response of the Tracheobronchial Mucociliary Clearance System to Repeated Irritant Exposure: Effect of Sulfuric Acid Mist on Function and Structure

This study was designed to determine quantitative and temporal alterations in tracheobronchial mucociliary clearance function and structure due to repeated inhalation exposures to a common irritant, sulfuric acid mist. Rabbits were exposed to 250 μg/m3 sulfuric acid (0.3 μ) for 1 h/day, 5 days/week, for up to 1 year, with some animals allowed a 3-month recovery period following the end of the acid exposures. Control animals received temperature- and humidity-conditioned water vapor. At intervals of 2 to 4 weeks, animals inhaled a radioactively tagged tracer aerosol (ferric oxide microspheres, 4.5 μ.m), and its clearance via mucociliary transport from the thorax was monitored by external serial counting. Clearance became slower during the first month of acid exposure, and this slowing became progressive with time through the end of the 12-month exposure period. After cessation of acid exposure, clearance became extremely slow and did not return to normal by the end of the follow-up period. To assess specif...
Anomalons, honey, and glue in nuclear collisions

In these lectures, I will cover three rapidly evolving areas of current research in the field of high energy nuclear collisions. Extensive reviews of additional topics can be found in Refs. 1 and 2. The topics covered here address the following questions: i. Do novel nuclear states exist? ii. Do nuclei flow like honey? iii. Can a quark-gluon plasma be produced?
Competition between kinetic and surface tension anisotropy in dendritic growth

The combined effect of an anisotropic surface tension and interface kinetics in dendritic crystal growth is studied numerically by a fully dynamical front-tracking method in two dimensions. It is shown how kinetic effects can be incorporated into the algorithm without causing numerical instabilities. The results are compared to the theory of E.A. Brener and V.I. Mel'nikov (Adv. Phys. 40, 53 (1991)). A particularly interesting case arises when the directions of minimum surface tension and minimum kinetic effect are different. In this case, when the deviation from local equilibrium is increased, the predicted transition from dendrites growing into the direction of the minimum surface stiffness to the direction of minimum kinetic effect is confirmed. Dendrites near this transition show strong oscillations and correlated side-branching. The transition where the oscillating dendrites change direction shows hysteresis.
Radiotherapeutic Management of Liver Metastases in Colorectal Cancer

The liver is the most common site of distant metastases in patients with colorectal cancer, and liver metastases are a frequent cause of death in this patient population. Chemotherapy is the standard treatment, with an expected median survival reaching approximately 2 years. Resection of metastases can achieve long-term cure in a small proportion of these patients. For unresectable or inoperable patients, several options for local ablative therapy exist, including radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolization, and cryotherapy. This review will discuss 2 radiotherapeutic approaches that are of growing interest due to the prospect of reducing treatment-related morbidity: external beam/stereotactic body radiation therapy, and yttrium-90 radio embolization.
CAPTURE METHODS IN FIVE SUBSPECIES OF FREE-RANGING BIGHORN SHEEP: AN EVALUATION OF DROP-NET, DRIVE-NET, CHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION AND THE NET-GUN

Six hundred thirty-four bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were captured in the western United States between 1980 and 1986, using four different methods: drop-net (n = 158), drive-net (n = 249), chemical immobilization (n =90) and net-gun (n =137). The net-gun was found to have considerable advantages over the use of ground nets and chemical immobilization methods for capturing bighorn sheep. Evaluation of specific outcome categories for individual sheep, including normal, compromised (stress-induced), mortality from capture myopathy (CM), and accidental mortality, revealed significant differences in these rates between capture groups (P < 0.05). The use of the net-gun resulted in the lowest proportion of compromised sheep at 11% (15/137), had no CM mortality, and resulted in a 2% (2/137) accidental mortality. The use of drop-nets resulted in 15% compromised sheep (24/158), a CM mortality rate of 2% (3/158), and an accidental mortality rate of 1% (2/158). A similar proportion of sheep were compromised with ...
The effects of mental representation on performance in a navigation task

In three experiments, we investigated the mental representations employed when instructions were followed that involved navigation in a space displayed as a grid on a computer screen. Performance was affected much more by the number of instructional units than by the number of words per unit. Performance in a three-dimensional space was independent of the number of dimensions along which participants navigated. However, memory for and accuracy in following the instructions were reduced when the task required mentally representing a three-dimensional space, as compared with representing a two-dimensional space, although the words used in the instructions were identical in the two cases. These results demonstrate the interdependence of verbal and spatial memory representations, because individuals' immediate memory for verbal navigation instructions is affected by their mental representation of the space referred to by the instructions.
Correlates of quitting the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test in cognitively normal older adults participating in a study of normal cognitive aging

Our study of cognitive aging involves a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological measures. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is the only test that some of our participants will refuse to complete. We explored variables related to quitting versus completing the PASAT in this sample of normal older adults. We hypothesized that quitting would be related to personality features, subclinical anxiety symptoms, demographics, and/or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Revised (WAIS–R) Arithmetic performance. A logistical regression model including NEO Personality Inventory–Revised (NEO-PI-R) depression and excitement seeking, age, and WAIS–R Arithmetic classified participants with moderate accuracy. We encourage investigators involved in longitudinal studies to consider causes for missing data, especially when secondary to participant refusal.
Bayesian integration of position and orientation cues in perception of biological and non-biological forms

Visual form analysis is fundamental to shape perception and likely plays a central role in perception of more complex dynamic shapes, such as moving objects or biological motion. Two primary form-based cues serve to represent the overall shape of an object: the spatial position and the orientation of locations along the boundary of the object. However, it is unclear how the visual system integrates these two sources of information in dynamic form analysis, and in particular how the brain resolves ambiguities due to sensory uncertainty and/or cue conflict. In the current study, we created animations of sparsely-sampled dynamic objects (human walkers or rotating squares) comprised of oriented Gabor patches in which orientation could either coincide or conflict with information provided by position cues. When the cues were incongruent, we found a characteristic trade-off between position and orientation information whereby position cues increasingly dominated perception as the relative uncertainty of orientation increased and vice versa. Furthermore, we found no evidence for differences in the visual processing of biological and non-biological objects, casting doubt on the claim that biological motion may be specialized in the human brain, at least in specific terms of form analysis. To explain these behavioral results quantitatively, we adopt a probabilistic template-matching model that uses Bayesian inference within local modules to estimate object shape separately from either spatial position or orientation signals. The outputs of the two modules are integrated with weights that reflect individual estimates of subjective cue reliability, and integrated over time to produce a decision about the perceived dynamics of the input data. Results of this model provided a close fit to the behavioral data, suggesting a mechanism in the human visual system that approximates rational Bayesian inference to integrate position and orientation signals in dynamic form analysis.
The influence of increased renal mass on cardiovascular function in immature dogs.

Summary: Pediatric renal allograft recipients receive a relatively greater increase in renal mass than do adult recipients because the donors are usually adults. They also have a higher frequency of posttransplant hypertension and cardiovascular problems. Avoiding other variables common to both pediatric and adult patients including pre-existing hypertension and renal disease and the use of corticosteroids, renal mass was increased by up to 50% in immature dogs by implanting large kidneys from adult dogs. Cardiovascular and renal function were studied before and after transplantation. Blood pressure was decreased in anesthetized mongrel pups at 2 hr and 3 days after surgery by 22 and 6 mm Hg, respectively; pressure was similarly reduced in conscious, chronically catheterized DLA-matched beagle pups maintained for 14 days, from 96.1 ± 3.0 to 76.8 ± 6.7 mm Hg (P < 0.001). Glomerular filtration rate was decreased at 2 hr and 3 days, but was normal at 14 days. Cardiac output was reduced in four of five recipients at 2 hr but was unchanged at 3 days. Plasma volume was increased at 3 days in the mongrel dogs but was normal in the beagles both at 2 and 14 days. We conclude that an increase in renal mass of up to 50% by itself does not cause hypertension in the dog and that other factors may be implicated in pediatric allograft recipients. Speculation: Since increase in renal mass per se does not cause hypertension in healthy immature pups, other factors may be responsible for posttransplant hypertension in pediatric renal allograft recipients. Likely candidates are pre-existing renal disease, pre-existing vascular disease, and the use of corticosteroids. Immature animals may respond differently than do adults to stimuli which contribute to posttransplant hypertension.
Synchronization in arrays of coupled nonlinear systems with delay and nonreciprocal time-varying coupling

We study synchronization in an array of coupled nonlinear systems with delay and nonreciprocal time-varying coupling and present synchronization criteria which generalize previous synchronization results. We show that the array synchronizes when the nondelay coupling term is cooperative and large enough. Furthermore, we show that the synchronization criteria are related to several matrix quantities describing the coupling topology. These quantities can be considered as generalizations of the concept of algebraic connectivity to directed graphs.
Getting students to see the light

Currently in the United States as well as many other countries, the percentage of college students who are interested in science and engineering is decreasing. Can optics, being an area of physics which has so many applications to everyday life, be helpful to reignite student interest? In this paper we address problems related to this falloff of student interest and discuss their possible solutions. In particular, efforts are made to integrate existing techniques for general physics eduction into optics courses at the introductory level.
Laser measurement techniques: Laser spectroscopy in semiconductors

A CAMAC-based digital data acquisition system to study luminescence spectra and dynamics in semiconductors using pulsed and cw laser sources is described. Various experimental techniques for measuring time-dependent luminescence and laser excitation spectra are discussed. In order to demonstrate the system performance and sensitivity of this data acquisition system, experimental low-temperature laser-induced luminescence data for the oxygen-bound exciton in the II-VI semiconductor compound ZnTe is presented.
Frequency-Domain Channel Estimation and Equalization for Single Carrier Underwater Acoustic Communications

A new frequency-domain channel estimation and equalization (FDE) scheme is proposed for single carrier (SC) underwater acoustic communications. The proposed SC-FDE employs a small training signal block for initial channel estimation in the frequency domain and converts the estimated transfer function to a desired DFT (discrete Fourier transform) size for channel equalization of the data blocks. The frequency domain equalizer is designed using the linear minimum mean square error criterion. A new phase coherent detection scheme is also proposed and deployed to combat the phase drift due to the instantaneous Doppler in the underwater channels. The channel transfer functions and group-averaged phase drift are re-estimated adaptively in a decision-directed manner for each data block in a packet, which contains M blocks of QPSK data. The proposed SC-FDE method is applied to single input multiple output (SIMO) systems using the experimental data measured off the coast of Panama City, Florida, USA, June 2007. The uncoded bit error rate of the SIMO systems varies between 1.3% to 6.8 x 10 5 when 4 ~ 8 receive hydrophones are utilized, and the source-receiver range is 5.06 km.
Structure of ribosomes and ribosomal subunits of Drosophila.

The ultrastructure of Drosophila melanogaster cytoplasmic ribosomal subunits and monomers have been examined by electron microscopy. The Drosophila ribosomal structures are compared to those determined for other eucaryotes and E. coli. Negatively contrasted images of 60S subunits are seen in the most frequent view to be approximately round particles about 280 A in diameter. About 35% of the particles present a single prominent projection which we call the 60S peak. The peak emanates from a flattened region of the 60S subunit. The maximum observed length of the 60S peak is approximately 90A. The Drosophila 60S peak is highly reminiscent of the E. coli L7/L12 stalk. The Drosophila 40S subunit is an elongated, slightly bent particle which measures 280×170×160 A. It bears a strong resemblance to small ribosomal subunits of other eucaryotes and is strikingly similar to the E. coli 30S subunit. Micrographs of 80S monomeric ribosomes show the long axis of the 40S to be parallel and in apparent contact with the flattened region of 60S subunit. The 60S peak appears to bisect the long axis of the 40S subunit. The 40S subunit seems to be oriented in the monomeric ribosome so that the 40S projection is toward the body of the large subunit. Comparison of our data with similar studies in different organisms indicates that the eucaryotic large ribosomal subunits exhibit morphological heterogeneity while the small subunits remain remarkably similar.
Methods for Identification of State-Dependent Crosslinks for Structural Determination of Membrane Proteins

Determining the structure of membrane proteins is critical to understanding how they function. Though various techniques exist to elucidate structural information, often times they lack the ability to determine allosteric movements associated with the dynamic nature of the proteins. Development of a method that affords the possibility of mapping changes in structure associated with the complicated allosteric mechanisms of membrane proteins is a valuable tool to better understanding the structural basis of protein function. The glycine receptor (GlyR) is a ligand-gated ion channel associated with inhibition of signal propagation in the central nervous system. Single-Cys mutant homomeric human α1 GlyR is overexpressed in insect cells, purified, and reacted with a methanethiosulfonate-benzophenone heterobifunctional crosslinker containing an alkyne tag. After state-dependent photoactivation in the presence or absence of modulatory ligands, inter- and intra-subunit crosslinks may be isolated by proteolysis, reduction, click chemistry and affinity chromatography. Verification and quantitation of crosslinked species may be sensitively identified by fluorescent tagging and use of a HPLC-microfluidic-laser induced fluorescence (LIF) system. Structural information can be derived through the implementation of multi-dimensional mass spectrometry to identify sites of crosslinking and relative distances which can be used to refine computational models in state specific manner. Development of this method, using GlyR as a model system, will allow for structural determinations to be made on any protein and thus allow for a better understanding of the dynamic nature of allosteric proteins.
Does Monte Carlo support the Kosterlitz-Thouless scenario

Abstract We study the mechanism of the phase transition between the disordered and the algebraic-ordered phases of the XY model. We use a modified Monte Carlo procedure which permits tunneling between configurations with different numbers of free vortices. The results are marginally compatible with the standard Monte Carlo. Our data do not match the predictions of the vortex liberation scenario for the topological susceptibility. We interpret these results as lack of support for the K-T picture.
Is Your Avatar Ethical? on-Line Course Tools That are Methods for Student Identity and Verification:

On-line college courses present a mandate for student identity verification for accreditation and funding sources. Student authentication requires course modification to detect fraud and misreprese...
Interfacial wave stability of concurrent two-phase flow in a horizontal channel

Abstract A wave front perturbation method is applied to a one-dimensional two-phase flow in a horizontal duct to analyze the interfacial wave stability. The governing equations are thus reduced to a first-order ordinary differential equation (ODE). The linear solution of this ODE agrees with the conclusion from the small amplitude wave perturbation approach. The non-linear theory suggests that the linear stability result is sufficient for predicting instability in wavy flow, and may over-predict the critical gas velocity for large disturbances. Accordingly, a weak non-linear stability criterion is obtained. The type of unstable wave, under-cut wave or roll wave, also can be predicted analytically.
A test of an interactive model of bulimic symptomatology in adult women

An interactive model of bulimic symptom development, first suggested by Vohs et al. (1999), was tested in adult women (mean age = 45.19). The following hypothesis was examined in a longitudinal design over 2.5 years: Women high in perfectionism, low in self-esteem, and who perceive themselves as overweight would be the most likely to experience an increase in bulimic symptoms. Results supported the model with regard to maintenance and exacerbation, but not onset, of bulimic symptoms. Furthermore, the interactive model was tested to see if it showed specificity to bulimic, versus depressive or anxious, symptoms. Some support for the model's specificity to bulimic symptoms was observed; however, the increase of anxious symptoms was also observed. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.
YAZ proxy installation to enhance Z39.50 server performance

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to promote the usage of an open‐source gateway product that will enhance the functionality of a Z39.50 server that is maintained by a third‐party vendor.Design/methodology/approach – The required functionality improvements, needed by the LC Z39.50 server (i.e. the problems LC needed to solve) will be listed and described. Possible approaches to solving the problems will be listed. The selected open‐source gateway product and its features will be described. A possible instance of the product's configuration file will be provided and annotated.Findings – It is possible for many third‐party server problems to be corrected or controlled even if the server application is not accessible by vendor APIs. LC was able to do this by installing the YAZ Proxy, a product that is both a Z39.50‐to‐Z39.50 gateway and an SRU‐to‐Z39.50 gateway. The proxy provides a way to filter and sanitize problematic Z39.50 requests, and it also allows the ILS system server to support retrieval of...
Managing multi-organization projects: A people perspective

Abstract Recent reports of management practices in multi-organization settings as well as advances in interorganizational theories possess implications for enhancing the effectiveness of technical personnel in multi-organization projects. These reports focus on what makes a project a success or on what makes an innovation a success. Factors include the characteristics and roles of key supporters and of those who link together the participating organizations. Much less emphasis is given to how these factors relate to an ongoing project and, in particular, how they impact upon the performance of individual engineers. This paper examines the reported success factors from a systems viewpoint and discusses the relationships between these factors and individual technical personnel performance in a multi-organization project setting.
Interactions of arbuscular mycorrhizae, Meloidogyne arenaria, and phosphorus fertilization on peanut

The individual and combined effects of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Meloidogyne arenaria, and phosphorus (P) fertilization, (0, 25, 75, and 125 μg/g soil) on peanut plant growth and pod yield were determined in greenhouse studies. Best growth and yield usually occurred at 75 or 125 μg P regardless of inoculation treatment. Peanut growth and yield were generally stimulated by AMF development, and growth alone was suppressed by M. arenaria at 0 and 25 μg P. In challenge inoculations, VAM increased peanut plant tolerance to the nematode and offset the growth reductions caused by M. arenaria at the two lower P levels. However, VAM and added P increased galling and M. arenaria egg production/g root, thereby increasing peanut susceptibility to nematode attack. M. arenaria had only a minimal effect on root colonization by AMF and sporulation by the fungi.
Adsorption and Hysteresis of Bisphenol A and 17α-Ethinyl Estradiol on Carbon Nanomaterials

Adsorption of 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and bisphenol A (BPA) on carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) was investigated. Single point adsorption coefficients (K) showed significant relationship with specific surface areas of CNMs for both chemicals, indicating surface area is a major factor for EDC adsorption on CNMs. BPA adsorption capacity is higher than EE2 on fullerene and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). Our molecular conformation simulation indicated that BPA has a unique ability to adsorb on the curvature surface of CNMs because of its "butterfly" structure of two benzene rings. The higher adsorption capacity of BPA over EE2 is well explained by considering helical (diagonal) coverage of BPA on the CNMs surface and wedging of BPA into the groove and interstitial region of CNM bundles or aggregates. The comparison of K(HW) (hexadecane-water partition coefficient) normalized adsorption coefficients between EDCs and several polyaromatic hydrocarbons indicates that pi-pi electron donor--acceptor system is an important mechanism forthe adsorption of benzene-containing chemicals on CNMs. The high adsorption capacity and strong desorption hysteresis of both chemicals on SWCNT indicate that SWCNT is a potential adsorbent for water treatment.
Hematopoietic inhibitors in chronic renal failure: Lack of in vitro specificity

Hematopoietic inhibitors in chronic renal failure: Lack of in vitro specificity. To assess the potential role of retained inhibitors in the pathogenesis of the anemia of chronic renal failure, we have studied simultaneously the effects of increasing concentrations of normal or uremic sera on the growth of erythroid colonies (from CFU-E), granulocyte-macrophage colonies (from CFU-GM), and megakaryocytic colonies (from CFU-Meg) in mouse marrow cell cultures. As compared to normal human serum, increasing concentrations of uremic sera induced a dose-dependent inhibition in the growth of all colony types. Significant correlations (P
Local fiscal competition: An application to sales taxation with multiple federations

Abstract Local sales tax rates influence the location of retail activity. This paper develops a theory and empirical identification strategy for studying sales tax competition with “multiple federations,” as exemplified by multiple counties each containing several cities. In addition to strategic interactions with nearby cities and a city’s own county, city tax rates are influenced by the tax rates of neighboring counties. Cities react heterogeneously to own-county sales tax rates depending on distance to the county border. Using data on the driving time to county borders and a comprehensive cross-section of local sales tax rates, I exploit variation in proximity to county borders to identify vertical fiscal competition. Cities located near county borders react more intensely to their county’s tax rate in comparison to towns at the interior. An increase in the neighboring county tax rate raises city tax rates in nearby counties.
Mining multiple phenotype structures underlying gene expression profiles

DNA microarray technology is now widely used in basic biomedical research for mRNA expression profiling and are increasingly being used to explore patterns of gene expression in clinical research. Automatically detecting phenotype structures from gene expression profiles can provide deep insight into the nature of many diseases as well as lead in the development of new drugs. While most of the previous studies focus on only mining empirical phenotype structure which the experiment controls, it is also interesting to detect possible hidden phenotype structures underlying gene expression profiles.Since the number of samples is usually limited, such data sets are very sparse in high-dimensional gene space. Furthermore, most of the genes of interest are buried in large amount of noise. Unsupervised phenotype structure discovery of such sparse high-dimensional data sets present interesting but challenging problems. In this paper, we propose the model of simultaneously mining both empirical and hidden phenotype structures from gene expression data. We demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method on various real-world data sets.
Iron-oxide aerogel and xerogel catalyst formulations: characterization by 57Fe Mössbauer and XAFS spectroscopies.

Iron in various iron-oxide aerogel and xerogel catalyst formulations (> or =85% Fe(2)O(3); < or =10% K, Co, Cu, or Pd) developed for possible use in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) or the water-gas-shift (WGS) reaction has been examined by (57)Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy. The seventeen samples consisted of both as-prepared and calcined aerogels and xerogels and their products after use as catalysts for FTS or the WGS reaction. Complementary XAFS spectra were obtained on the occurrence of the secondary elements in some of the same materials. A broad, slightly asymmetric, two-peak Mossbauer spectrum was obtained from the different as-prepared and calcined catalyst formulations in the majority of cases. Such spectra could only be satisfactorily fit with three quadrupole doublet components, but no systematic trends in the isomer shift and quadrupole splitting parameters and area ratios of the individual components could be discerned that reflected variations in the composition or preparation of the aerogel or xerogel materials. However, significant reductions were noted in the Mossbauer effective thickness (recoilless absorption effect per unit mass of iron) parameter, chi(eff)/g, determined at room temperature, for aerogels and xerogels compared to bulk iron oxides, reflecting the openness and lack of rigidity of the aerogel and xerogel structures. Mossbauer measurements for two aerogels over the range from 15 to 292K confirmed the greatly diminished nature of this parameter at room temperature. Major increases in the effective thickness parameter were observed when the open structure of the aerogel or xerogel collapsed during calcination resulting in the formation of iron oxides (hematite, spinel ferrite). Similar structural changes were indicated by increases in this parameter after use of iron-oxide aerogels as catalysts for FTS or the WGS reaction, during which the iron-oxide aerogel was converted to a mixture of nonstoichiometric magnetite and the Hagg carbide, chi-Fe(5)C(2), or nonstoichiometric magnetite, respectively.
Realization of a High-Contrast Optical Filter by a Semiconductor Double-Disk Resonator

A tunable optical filter using two InP/InGaAsP microdisk resonators connected in parallel is demonstrated. Deep transmission resonances of -17dB are achieved by appropriately tuning the resonant frequencies of the two microdisks.
A Taxonomy and Comparative Evaluation of Algorithms for Parallel Anomaly Detection

Anomaly detection in network traffic is an important technique for identifying operation and security problems in networks. Numerous anomaly detection algorithms have been proposed and deployed in practice. The recent availability of high-performance embedded processors in network systems has made it possible to implement these algorithms to monitor traffic in real-time. Since it is unlikely that any single anomaly detection technique will ever be sufficient, we propose the use of multiple existing anomaly detection algorithms in parallel. In this paper, we develop a method of combining different classes of anomaly detection algorithms and address the question of which combination of existing anomaly detection algorithms achieves the best detection accuracy. We also present a taxonomy of anomaly detection algorithms and evaluate six specific algorithms on a common evaluation platform. Based on this evaluation, we identify the combination of anomaly detection algorithms that achieve the highest detection accuracy and derive a few rules that can be used when deciding on combining and aggregating multiple algorithms.
Fostering synergies between information technology and managerial and organizational cognition: the role of knowledge management

Abstract In this paper, we try to understand the role of knowledge management in fostering a synergistic symbiosis between information technology and managerial and organizational cognition. Both information technology and knowledge management can be perceived as strategic enablers of managerial and organizational cognition. We synthesize classical cognition concepts and recent empirical experience with knowledge management applications to develop an organizational knowledge management model (the Organizational Cognition Spiral or OCS) and tool (the organizational knowledge network or OK net) for understanding and supporting managerial and organizational cognition.
Outcome reporting in industry-sponsored trials of gabapentin for off-label use.

Background There is good evidence of selective outcome reporting in published reports of randomized trials. Methods We examined reporting practices for trials of gabapentin funded by Pfizer and Warner-Lambert's subsidiary, Parke-Davis (hereafter referred to as Pfizer and Parke-Davis) for off-label indications (prophylaxis against migraine and treatment of bipolar disorders, neuropathic pain, and nociceptive pain), comparing internal company documents with published reports. Results We identified 20 clinical trials for which internal documents were available from Pfizer and Parke-Davis; of these trials, 12 were reported in publications. For 8 of the 12 reported trials, the primary outcome defined in the published report differed from that described in the protocol. Sources of disagreement included the introduction of a new primary outcome (in the case of 6 trials), failure to distinguish between primary and secondary outcomes (2 trials), relegation of primary outcomes to secondary outcomes (2 trials), and ...
Derivative of Mutual Information at Zero SNR: The Gaussian-Noise Case

Assuming additive Gaussian noise, a general sufficient condition on the input distribution is established to guarantee that the ratio of mutual information to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) goes to one half nat as SNR vanishes. The result allows SNR-dependent input distribution and side information.
Endothelin-1 in the rat bile duct ligation model of hepatopulmonary syndrome: correlation with pulmonary dysfunction

Abstract Background/Aims: Models of hepatopulmonary syndrome require both hepatic injury and portal hypertension to develop pulmonary microvascular and gas exchange abnormalities. Recently, increased endothelin-1 levels associated with vasodilatation, have been observed in cirrhosis. We investigated endothelin-1 production in common bile duct ligated animals with hepatopulmonary syndrome in comparison to partial portal vein ligated animals that do not develop hepatopulmonary syndrome. Methods: Organ and plasma endothelin-1 were measured in sham, bile duct ligated and portal vein ligated rats, and Northern analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed in liver. Plasma endothelin-1 levels were correlated with pulmonary endothelial nitric oxide synthase levels and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients. Results: Hepatic and plasma endothelin-1 increased only after bile duct ligation, and were accompanied by increased hepatic endothelin-1 mRNA and increased endothelin-1 protein in biliary epithelium. Plasma endothelin-1 levels correlated directly with both pulmonary endothelial nitric oxide synthase levels and alveolar-arterial gradients. Conclusions: Enhanced hepatic production and increased plasma levels of endothelin-1 occur after bile duct ligation, but not after portal vein ligation, and correlate with associated molecular and gas exchange alterations in the lung. Endothelin-1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome.
High-performance hetero-nanocrystal memories

Metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) memories with self-aligned hetero-nanocrystals (TiSi2/Si and Ge/Si) as the floating gates were fabricated and characterized. Better performances were found in hetero-nanocrystal memory, including longer retention time, larger storage capability and improved writing efficiency.
Central discontinuous Galerkin methods for ideal MHD equations with the exactly divergence-free magnetic field

In this paper, central discontinuous Galerkin methods are developed for solving ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. The methods are based on the original central discontinuous Galerkin methods designed for hyperbolic conservation laws on overlapping meshes, and use different discretization for magnetic induction equations. The resulting schemes carry many features of standard central discontinuous Galerkin methods such as high order accuracy and being free of exact or approximate Riemann solvers. And more importantly, the numerical magnetic field is exactly divergence-free. Such property, desired in reliable simulations of MHD equations, is achieved by first approximating the normal component of the magnetic field through discretizing induction equations on the mesh skeleton, namely, the element interfaces. And then it is followed by an element-by-element divergence-free reconstruction with the matching accuracy. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the high order accuracy and the robustness of the schemes.
Escin, a Pentacyclic Triterpene, Chemosensitizes Human Tumor Cells through Inhibition of Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Pathway

Agents that can enhance tumor cell apoptosis and inhibit invasion have potential for the treatment of cancer. Here, we report the identification of escin, a pentacyclic triterpenoid from horse chestnut that exhibits antitumor potential against leukemia and multiple myeloma. Whether examined by esterase staining, phosphatidyl-serine staining, DNA breakage, or caspase-mediated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, escin potentiated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced apoptosis but inhibited tumor cell invasion. This correlated with the down-regulation of bcl-2, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2, cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase-2, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor, which are all regulated by the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. When examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, the triterpenoid suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation induced by TNF and other inflammatory agents, and this correlated with the inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation and degradation, inhibition of IκB kinase complex (IKK) activation, suppression of p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, and abrogation of NF-κB-dependent reporter activity. Overall, our results demonstrate that escin inhibits activation of NF-κB through inhibition of IKK, leading to down-regulation of NF-κB-regulated cell survival and metastatic gene products and thus resulting in sensitization of cells to cytokines and chemotherapeutic agents.
Fabrication of plastic microlens array for array microscopy by three-dimensional diamond micromilling

Two lens arrays of 20 lenses (4×5) are fabricated in polystyrene (Rexolite 1422) using a 3-D, three-axis micromilling process. The lenses of one array are concave (Rcurv = -2 mm) and the lenses of the other array are convex (Rcurv = 2 mm). A method for correcting a 3-D micromilling program for a single lens is described and evaluated. The lens separation is 4 mm and Odiam = 2.6 mm for all lenses. Based on a measurement of key optical parameters (radius error, wavefront error, and surface roughness), micromilled lenses are shown to be of high optical quality compared with the form error and surface roughness obtained with plastic injection molded lenses.