cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A prospective study of weight gain associated with chronotype among college freshmen

A prospective study of chronotype as a predictor of increased weight gain and body mass index (BMI) among college freshman was undertaken. At baseline, 137 college freshmen were characterized as morning, neutral, or evening types using the reduced version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Additionally, information was collected regarding weight, BMI, and health habits (e.g., junk food and alcohol consumption). These additional measures consisted of a descriptive questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Gray-Donald Eating Patterns Questionnaire, and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. Participants included 79 females and 80 males with a mean age of 18.25 (SD = 0.56) yrs. Eight weeks later, participants returned (N = 54) to complete follow-up measures, which were identical to baseline assessments with the exception of the descriptive questionnaire, in which demographic questions were removed. Evening types had a significantly g...
A shape memory alloy-based reusable hysteretic damper for seismic hazard mitigation

This paper presents a special shape memory alloy-based hysteretic damper with distinctive features such as tunable hysteretic behavior and ability to withstand several design level earthquakes. Superelastic nitinol stranded wires are used for energy dissipation in this damping device, termed a reusable hysteretic damper (RHD). By adjusting its design parameters, the hysteretic behavior of the RHD can be modified to best fit the needs for passive structural control applications. Adjustable design parameters of the RHD include the inclination angle of the nitinol wires, pretension level, and friction effect. A simulation-based parametric study was carried out to examine the effects of these design parameters of the RHD on its energy dissipating performance. The effectiveness of the RHD in passive seismic response control of civil engineering structures is examined through a nonlinear dynamic analysis of a three-story steel frame building with and without an RHD. The simulation results suggest that it can effectively reduce the structural response of building structures subjected to strong earthquakes. With proper design, an RHD can be reused for several strong earthquakes without the need for repair, due to the high fatigue life of nitinol wires.
A Comparison between Hybrid and Non-hybrid Classifiers in Diagnosis of Induction Motor Faults

Induction machines (IMs) play a essential role in industry and there is a strong demand for their reliable and safe operation. IMs are susceptible to problems such as stator current imbalance and broken bars, usually detected when the equipment is already broken, and sometimes after irreversible damage has occurred. Condition monitoring can significantly reduce maintenance costs and the risk of unexpected failures through the early detection of potential risks. Several techniques are used to classify the condition of machines. This paper presents a new case study on Hybrid and Non-Hybrid classifiers in on-line condition monitoring of induction motors. Advantages of the system include improved performer of fault classification. The database was developed through a simplified mathematical model of the machine considering the effects caused by asymmetries in the phase impedances of motors. A comparative analysis is presented for simulation using single classifiers (based on the neural networks, k-Nearest neighbor and Naive Bayes), Non-Hybrid classifiers (based on the Bagging and Boosting) and Hybrid (Stacking) approaches. Results demonstrate that the Non-Hybrid systems obtain the better results in comparison with the individual experiments.
Are deconnected cerebral hemispheres independent channels? A preliminary study of the effect of unilateral loading on bilateral finger tapping.

Abstract After hemispheric deconnection, patients, whose tapping movements with one index finger at a time are nearly normal, can synchronize or alternate right and left finger tapping only at markedly decreased rates as compared to controls. One callosectomized subject tapped with her index fingers while performing verbal tasks. Moderately difficult tasks disrupted right index tapping only; concentration on more difficult tasks and confusion arrested both index fingers. The deconnected hemispheres have partial but not total independence. Concurrent activities maximally compete when programmed in the same hemisphere; but both hemispheres draw upon the limited and still unified attentional resources of the brain as a whole.
210Pb-derived sediment accumulation and mixing rates for the Washington continental slope

Abstract Total sediment accumulation rates (g/yr) in four canyons indenting the Washington continental shelf are about twice those on the nearby open slope, even though canyons comprise less than 40% of the depositional area of the entire slope. This is because 210 Pb-derived sediment accumulation rates (g/cm 2 /yr) for Astoria and Quinault Canyons are 3–4 times greater than those for Willapa and Grays Canyons and intermediate open slope areas, supporting the hypothesis that Columbia River-derived solids are preferentially transported to these two canyons. Quinault Canyon currently appears to be accumulating solids at rates much greater than its low, long-term accumulation rate, which is attributed to turbidity currents transporting solids down this canyon roughly every 500 years. The following four different approaches all show that mixing may cause 210 Pb-derived sediment accumulation rates for slope and canyon sediments to be 2–3 times higher than true accumulation rates: (1) comparison between accumulation rates calculated from 210 Pb profiles with and without surface zones in which mixing has obviously affected 210 Pb distributions; (2) comparison between 210 Pb-derived and independently determined, long-term accumulation rates; (3) comparison between 210 Pb-derived accumulation and modern Columbia River discharge rates; (4) comparison between two and three layer, steady-state, one dimensional diffusion-advection-decay models. Mixing coefficients for surface sediments calculated using a one dimensional, two layer, vertical eddy diffusion model show large differences within the region, with most in the 3–30 cm 2 /yr range. Mixing rates are several times larger in canyon sediments from 0.2–1.1 km water depth, probably due to physical reworking processes. Erroneously neglected mixing at depth of no more than 5% of that calculated for the surface mixed layer can cause the 2–3 fold calculated overestimation of true sediment accumulation rates, and 2–4 fold calculated underestimation of true mixing coefficients.
Thick slice and thin slice teaching evaluations

Student-based teaching evaluations are an integral component to institutions of higher education. Previous work on student-based teaching evaluations suggest that evaluations of instructors based upon “thin slice” 30-s video clips of them in the classroom correlate strongly with their end of the term “thick slice” student evaluations. This study’s results support previous findings, but also find that thick slice student evaluations are better than thin slice evaluations. The findings are interpreted to suggest that thick slice evaluations capture course content variables not reflected in thin slice evaluations.
ECU curriculum responds to the needs of multiple constituents

Abstract This paper presents an application of a curriculum reform model to a real world situation at East Carolina University. It reviews accounting curricula and the impetus for change in accounting programs with special attention given to three forces driving accounting curriculum reform: 1. 1. the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) call for a 150-semester-hour requirement for membership. 2. 2. the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business' (AACSB) new accreditation standards, and 3. 3. the changing needs and expectations of the accounting profession. After an examination of how these and several other factors influence the accounting curriculum, reform strategies are discussed. A case study outlining the process that East Carolina University (ECU) underwent to achieve its new dual track accounting curriculum is presented. The dual tracks consist of a 120-h BSBA with a concentration in managerial accounting and a 150-h BSA/MSA in accounting.
Brief report: depression and history of suicide attempts in adults with new-onset Type 2 Diabetes.

Summary Aim To assess past suicide attempts in a cohort of adults with Type 2 Diabetes diagnosed within the prior 24 months. Methods Outpatients were recruited from diabetes education classes or diabetes shared medical appointment. Participants aged 18 or over with a self-reported diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) in the prior 24 months completed questionnaires about medical (including diabetes), psychiatric, and social history. Participants also completed two screening questionnaires for depression: Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and the Questionnaire Inventory for Depressive Symptoms–Self Report. Those who screened positive for depression had confirmatory testing with a clinician administered Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) checklist. Results In this convenience sample of 145 patients with Type 2 Diabetes, 9.7% of patients had history of a suicide attempt and 38.2% met diagnosis for major depressive disorder (MDD). Patients with MDD were more likely to have a history of suicide attempts than those without MDD (p = 0.0002). Of the patients with prior suicide attempts, 50% screened positive for MDD at the time of the survey. Conclusion In patients with newly-diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes the rate of past suicide attempts was nearly 10%, which is twice the rate seen in the general population. The rate of past suicide attempts in currently depressed patients with diabetes is 21.8%. These findings suggest the need for monitoring patients with diabetes and depression for future suicide risk.
Infrared active modes in KTaO3

Abstract With neglect of all but the three largest restoring couplings between the sublattices of KTaO 3 , the three observed optical frequencies enable one to calculate the displacements associated with each normal mode. As in the case of SrTiO 3 , one again obtains a Slater-type low-frequency solution. The low and intermediate frequencies are characterized by a relatively rigid oxygen framework. The high frequency involves large relative motion of the oxygen ions. In the case of KTaO 3 , a Last-type solution does not exist over an extended temperature range. The displacements associated with the corresponding three modes of the Slater-type solution for SrTiO 3 and KTaO 3 are similar, which is what one might expect due to the similarity of the reflectivity spectra of these materials.
Improving Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers by Means of Quality Improvement Tools

For a healthcare worker seasonal influenza vaccination quality improvement project, interventions included support of leadership, distribution of vaccine kits, grand rounds, an influenza website, a screensaver, e-mails, phone messages, and audit feedback. Vaccination rates increased from 58.8% to 76.6% (P < .01). Quality improvement increased the voluntary vaccination rate but did not achieve a rate more than 80%.
Control of capsular polysaccharide chain length by UDP‐sugar substrate concentrations in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Regulation of chain length is essential to the proper functioning of prokaryotic and eukaryotic polysaccharides. Modulation of polymer size by substrate concentration is an attractive but unexplored control mechanism that has been suggested for many polysaccharides. The Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide is essential for virulence, and regulation of its size is critical for survival in different host environments. Synthesis of the type 3 capsule [-4)-beta-d-Glc-(1-3)-beta-d-GlcUA-(1-] from UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc) and UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcUA) is catalysed by the type 3 synthase, a processive beta-glycosyltransferase, and requires a UDP-Glc dehydrogenase for conversion of UDP-Glc to UDP-GlcUA. Strains containing mutant UDP-Glc dehydrogenases exhibited reduced levels of UDP-GlcUA, along with reductions in total capsule amount and polymer chain length. In both the parent and mutant strains, UDP-Glc levels far exceeded UDP-GlcUA levels, which were very low to undetectable in the absence of blocking synthase activity. The in vivo observations were consistent with in vitro conditions that effect chain termination and ejection of the polysaccharide from the synthase when one substrate is limiting. These data are the first to demonstrate modulation of polysaccharide chain length by substrate concentration and to enable a model for the underlying mechanism. Further, they may have implications for the control of chain length in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic polymers synthesized by similar mechanisms.
Intracerebroventricular administration of soy protein hydrolysates reduces body weight without affecting food intake in rats.

Some studies suggest that increased consumption of soy protein hydrolysates may cause body weight loss but the mechanism of action is unknown. The objective of this investigation was to determine whether intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of soy protein hydrolysates decrease food intake and body weight. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) received i.c.v. injections of soy hydrolysate I (SH I) or soy hydrolysate II (SH II) three times weekly for 2 weeks. Krebs solution and leptin were used as negative and positive controls respectively. SH I (6.5–20 kDa with a strong band at 14 kDa) was produced by hydrolysis with alcalase, and SH II (∼2 kDa) was obtained by hydrolysis and ultrafiltration. Leptin successfully reduced body weight (−1.60 g) 24 h (p = 0.0093) after the third injection. SH I caused significant (p = 0.0009) decreases in body weight (−1.70 g) 24 h after the third injection but not after 48 h. SH II showed a tendency to prevent body weight gain but this effect was short of statistical significance (p < 0.40). Food intake was not affected by any of the soy hydrolysate treatments but leptin injection did cause significant decreases in food intake (p < 0.05). Data suggest that soy alcalase hydrolysate can decrease, in the short term, the rate of body weight gain independently of food consumption. This preliminary data show that soy peptides may play a role on body weight regulation, possibly by increasing energy utilization.
Direct interaction between the intracellular domains of bullous pemphigoid antigen 2 (BP180) and β4 integrin, hemidesmosomal components of basal keratinocytes

Bullous pemphigoid antigen 2 (BPAG2/BP180, also known as type XVII collagen) and alpha 6 beta 4 integrin are both transmembrane proteins and hemidesmosomal components of basal keratinocytes. In this study, using yeast two-hybrid system, we demonstrate direct protein-protein interaction between the intracellular domains of BP180 and the beta 4 integrin subunit. Detailed analysis revealed that a bait construct spanning amino acids 13-89 of BP180 contained sufficient information for the protein protein interaction, but further deletion of 13 amino-terminal amino acids, which eliminates a predicted beta-sheet, abolished the interaction. The intracellular domain of the beta 4 integrin subunit contains two pairs of fibronectin type III (FNIII) repeats separated by a connecting segment. Series of expression constructs, sequentially deleting each domain, revealed that the connecting segment, the second pair of FNIII repeats and the tail region of the beta 4 integrin subunit were necessary for the interaction with BP180 in yeast two-hybrid system.
Rehabilitation in Russia

For several decades, the disability community in Russia has battled for its rights. In 1995, a disability rights law was passed that covered multiple areas, such as environmental access, education, and work. This article focuses on Russian rehabilitation philosophy and practice. It is written from a mixture of perspectives—personal experience, discussions with activists, and articles—to highlight both the universality of challenges related to disability and the distinctiveness of problems within social systems.
Long-term maintenance of monkey lenses in organ culture: a potential model system for the study of human cataractogenesis.

Abstract Lenses from Rhesus monkeys were maintained in protein-free medium and both their biochemical and histological changes were examined. Lenses were dissected under a dissecting microscope to ensure minimal contamination by other ocular tissue, which allowed successful observation of whole lens morphology during culture. Lenses in culture showed no acute leakage of protein into medium, indicating that they had not been physically damaged during dissection. Cultured lenses remained transparent for 21 days without any noticeable histological changes. Even at 21 days of culture,35S-methionine incorporation into lens protein was approximately 60% of the level observed in fresh lenses. The amounts of most protein species were rather constant in the lens capsule/epithelium throughout culture, but the amount of crystallins gradually decreased during the first 14 days of culture due to selective decrease in crystallin synthesis. After day 14, both the amount of crystallins and their synthesis became stable. When 30 mM fructose, present in the control medium, was replaced with 30 mM xylose, lens opacification with some histological abnormalities such as vacuole formation was observed. In the xylose-induced cataract, the protein synthetic activity decreased dramatically. This system would be a valuable tool in investigating the mechanisms of lens homeostasis as well as mechanisms of cataractogenesis in primate lens.
The healthcare volunteer.

Abstract Every year, volunteers contribute billions of dollars worth of time to the healthcare industry. Despite their contributions, however, little is known about who these volunteers are, what they do, why they volunteer, as well as the costs and benefits they bring to institutions. This articfe examines these and other characteristics of the healthcare volunteer.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae FitA interacts with FitB to bind DNA through its ribbon-helix-helix motif.

The fit locus, encoding two proteins, FitA and FitB, was identified in a genetic screen for Neisseria gonorrhoeae determinants that affect trafficking across polarized epithelial cells. To better u...
Application of telecom technologies to optical instrumentation

In this tutorial, we will show several novel optical instruments using optical phase modulation, which is a common technique used in fiber optic communications for phase shift keying and chirped RZ transmission. We will cover the concept of space-time duality, time-lens for jitter compensation and pulse compression, time-prism for ultrafast tunable optical delay, and generation of effective negative nonlinear refractive index using electro-optic phase modulation for compensation of self-phase modulation. These device concepts are inspired by the rapid technological development in telecom, and demonstrate the great potential of applying telecom technologies to optical instrumentation.
Doppler echocardiographic comparison of the Carpentier and Duran anuloplasty rings versus no ring after mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation

Abstract To compare the hemodynamic results of different anuloplasty techniques of primary valve repair for mitral regurgitation, 122 patients were prospectively studied with Doppler echocardiograms 5 to 10 days after operation. Seventy-seven patients had mitral valve prolapse, 27 had coronary artery disease, 13 patients had rheumatic mitral valve lesions and 5 patients had infective endocarditis. Forty-eight patients received the flexible Duran ring, 46 received the more rigid Carpentier ring and 28 patients received no ring. Doppler echocardiography demonstrated a significant decrease in mitral valve area estimated by the pressure half-time method in patients who received either a Carpentier (2.6 ± 0.8 cm 2 ) or Duran ring (2.8 ± 0.8 cm 2 ) when compared with patients who received no ring (3.2 ± 0.7 cm 2 ) (p = 0.01). No significant differences were observed for peak transmitral diastolic velocity, peak transmitral diastolic gradient, or the grade of mitral regurgitation by color flow Doppler mapping between patients with and without rings. The etiology of mitral disease and concomitant surgical procedures accompanying mitral valve repair did not significantly influence mitral valve area, peak velocity or peak gradient. These data suggest that Carpentier and Duran rings decrease the hemodynamic mitral valve area; however, the decrease in valve area is small and not associated with a clinically important increase in transvalvular gradient.
Structure and scintillation of Eu2+-activated BaBrCl and solid solutions in the BaCl2–BaBr2 system

Abstract The structure and scintillation properties of BaBrCl:xEu2+(x=0–0.12) and Eu2+ activated solid solutions in the BaCl2–BaBr2 system are reported. Samples were synthesized in the form of 1–5 mm crystals by melting the reactants in sealed quartz tubes followed by slow cooling. The solid solutions form an orthorhombic PbCl2-type crystal structure with an ordered arrangement of the anions. Upon optical and X-ray excitation, the samples show an intense emission centered between 407 and 412 nm. The samples exhibit a fast decay characteristic of Eu2+, with the primary decay component between 550 and 700 ns, depending on the Eu concentration. The luminosity for the solid solutions is estimated to be similar to the binary halide end members.
The United States, the only space superpower

Abstract The US space program has emerged from a difficult period of budget cuts and uncertainty about its goals leaner, fitter and much more focused. This contrasts with the world's other major spacefaring countries, which find themselves either the victim of severe economic circumstances (Russia), politically floundering (Europe) or no longer certain of their priorities (Japan). The author briefly appraises each major programme before analysing the current US success. He warns that leadership must not be squandered as it was in some fields after Apollo.
SRC-1 and GRIP1 Coactivate Transcription with Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF4), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, plays an important role in tissue-specific gene expression, including genes involved in hepatic glucose metabolism. In this study, we show that SRC-1 and GRIP1, which act as coactivators for various nuclear receptors, associate with HNF4in vivo and enhance its transactivation potential. The AF-2 domain of HNF4 is required for this interaction and for the potentiation of transcriptional activity by these coactivators. p300 can also serve as a coactivator with HNF4, and it synergizes with SRC-1 to further augment the activity of HNF4. HNF4 is also a key regulator of the expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF1). The overexpression of SRC-1 or GRIP1 enhances expression from a HNF1 gene promoter-reporter in HepG2 hepatoma cells, and this requires an intact HNF4-binding site in the HNF1 gene promoter. Type 1 maturity onset diabetes of young (MODY), which is characterized by abnormal glucose-mediated insulin secretion, is caused by mutations of the HNF4 gene. A mutation of the HNF4-binding site in the HNF1 gene promoter has also been associated with MODY. Thus, HNF4 is involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis at several levels and along with the SRC-1, GRIP1, and p300 may play an important role in the pathophysiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Linear estimators of a location parameter and canonical parameter estimators for a Poisson distribution

Abstract Conditions ensuring the inadmissibility of linear estimators for a location parameter in the case of invariant convex loss are given. Verifying a conjecture by L. Brown we show that all nonconstant linear estimators are inadmissible for estimating the canonical parameter of a Poisson distribution. We also provide exact and asymptotic expressions for risk functions of Bayes estimators under the conjugate priors and give a necessary and sufficient condition for their admissibility.
THE COMMUTING OF EXURBAN HOME BUYERS

The commuting times of exurbanites are explored using data from a survey of recent home purchasers in the Portland, Oregon region. Despite the suburbanization of jobs, most exurbanites spend more time commuting than their suburban counterparts. Household dynamics strongly influence exurban travel times with working spouses shortening the commutes of primary earners and children shortening the trips of secondary earners. In exchange for longer trips to work, exurban households obtain more space, a rural environment, lower housing prices, and/or better places for raising their children. The diversity of exurban households is captured in four exurban household types—Economy-Minded, Family-Oriented, Affluent, and Long-Distance Commuters—each of which has different commuting and socioeconomic characteristics.
Electroless Plating of Iron onto Cellulose Fibers

We describe a new electroless iron bath capable of depositing a ferromagnetic FeB coating onto Pd/Sn-catalyzed substrates at room temperature without the need for an accompanying galvanic couple and illustrate its use for the fabrication of magnetic cellulose microfibers. The new electroless iron bath contains Fe2+ as the metal source, citrate as the metal chelator, boric acid buffer as the pH controller, and borohydride as the reductant. Surface analysis following plating confirms the deposition of an amorphous FeB coating of composition ∼Fe10B onto the microfiber surface. Through the use of two-level factorial design statistical methods, we characterize the effects of plating variables (i.e., bath pH and concentrations of each bath component) on bath behavior, identifying pH as the sole factor influencing the mass of plated Fe and establishing optimal, reproducible conditions for electroless Fe deposition.
Molecular Mechanism for the Preferential Exclusion of Osmolytes from Protein Surfaces

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a naturally occurring protecting osmolyte that stabilizes the folded state of proteins and also counteracts the destabilizing effect of urea on protein stability. Experimentally, it has been inferred that TMAO is preferentially excluded from the vicinity of protein surfaces. Here, we combine computer modeling and experimental measurements to gain an understanding of the mechanism of the protecting effect of TMAO on proteins. We have developed an all-atom molecular model for TMAO that captures the exclusion of TMAO from model compounds and protein surfaces, as a consequence of incorporating realistic TMAO–water interactions through osmotic pressure measurements. Osmotic pressure measurements also suggest no significant attraction between urea and TMAO molecules in solution. To obtain an accurate potential for molecular simulations of protein stability in TMAO solutions, we have explored different ways of parametrizing the protein/osmolyte and osmolyte/osmolyte interactions ...
Renal Transplantation: Impact of Clean Intermittent Catheterization and Enterocystoplasties on the Frequency of Pyelonephritis and Renal Allograft Function

Abstract Purpose In children with a renal transplant it is believed that pts managed with an enterocystoplasty & CIC or managed by CIC alone have a higher incidence of pyleonephritis. As a sequelae of these infections it is hypothesized that the immunologic response is heightened and premature renal allograft loss occurs. This study was performed to compare and contrast the incidence of pyleonephritis and renal allograft function in children undergoing renal transplantation who are managed by enterocystoplasties & CIC, or CIC alone vs a control population. Material and Methods Children in the three groups were matched for the etiology of renal failure, the type of renal transplant performed, the immunosuppressive regimen used and the length of follow-up. Medical records were reviewed to determine the number of episodes of pyelonephritis. Renal clearance evaluations were performed at 1 & 6 months and then at yearly intervals post transplant. Results During a median follow-up interval of 60 months, range 24 to 120, recurrent pyleonephritis (≥6 episodes) occurred in 58% (14/24) of the pts with enterocystoplasty & CIC, 28% (6/21) using CIC alone vs 0% (0/21) that were voiding, p Conclusions In pts with a renal transplant, the risk of pyelonephritis is significantly increased in pts undergoing renal transplantion who have an enterocystoplasty in situ and are using CIC or using CIC alone.This does not however result in a significantly enhanced risk for allograft dysfunction or loss.
Short- and long-term outcomes with the use of kidneys and livers donated after cardiac death.

The shortage of deceased donor kidneys and livers for transplantation has prompted the use of organs from donors deceased after cardiac death (DCD). We used the UNOS database to examine patient and graft survival following transplantation of DCD organs compared to those following grafts from donors deceased after brain death (DBD; for livers, grafts from donors < 60 years old were labeled ‘< 60 yrs’). Of 44035 deceased donor kidney transplant recipients, 1177 (3%) received a DCD kidney. There was no difference in patient or graft survival at 5 years (DCD vs. DBD: 81.3% vs. 80.8% and 66.9% vs. 66.5%; p = 0.70 and p = 0.52 respectively). Of 24688-deceased donor liver transplant recipients, 345 (1.4%) were from DCD donors and 20289 (82%) were from ‘< 60 yrs’ DBD donors. Three-year patient and graft survival were inferior in the DCD group (DCD vs. ‘< 60 yrs’ DBD: 77% vs. 80% and 65% vs. 75%; p = 0.016 and p < 0.0001 respectively) but were comparable to current alternatives, ‘≥ 60 yrs’ DBD livers (donor age ≥ 60) and split livers. DCD livers are a reasonable option when death is imminent. Our study demonstrates good outcomes using DCD kidneys and livers and encourages their use.
Parenting factors, social skills, and value commitments as precursors to school failure, involvement with deviant peers, and delinquent behavior

Elements of social control theory were combined with social learning theory to construct a model of delinquency which specifies the manner in which parenting factors, social skills, value commitments, and problems in school contribute to association with deviant peers and involvement in delinquent behavior. The model was tested using a sample of 61 families, each of which included a seventh grader. Questionnaire responses and coded videotaped family interaction were employed as measures of study constructs. The results largely supported the proposed model.
Liability insurers as corporate monitors

Corporate directors and officers are being personally sued with increasing frequency for a broad array of alleged offenses, ranging from breach of the commonlaw duty of loyalty to shareholders, to violations of federal securities laws, to “looting” the corporate treasury, to violations of federal security laws, to even the “failure to exercise reasonable care in the selection of a depository bank.“’ According to one report, such suits increased fourfold from 1984 to 1985 alone.2 Although this rate of increase has apparently moderated, the liability of corporate officials remains controversial.3 Most public corporations have responded by purchasing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (“liability insurance”), which covers the expenses of individual directors and officers as well as the corporation’s expenses incurred under indemnification agreements. Proponents of liability insurance point out that it reduces the cost of compensating risk-averse directors and officers and encourages
Estimation of long-term basin scale evapotranspiration from streamflow time series

ranged from 12 to 1386 km 2 ) from the uppermost section of the Neuse River Basin in North Carolina, USA. In this area, forests and agriculture dominate the land cover and the spatial variation in climatic drivers is small. About 30% of the interannual variation in the basin‐averaged ETQ was explained by the variation in precipitation (P), while ETQ showed a minor inverse correlation with pan evaporation. The sum of annual Q and ETQ was consistent with the independently measured P. Our analysis shows that records of Q can provide approximate, continuous estimates of long‐term ET and, thereby, bounds for modeling regional fluxes of water and of other closely coupled elements, such as carbon.
Small-signal analysis of MESFET including the energy conservation equation

The sinusoidal steady-state analysis (SSSA) method is applied to the energy transport model which solves the Poisson equation, the continuity equation, and the energy conservation equation. The SSSA method is used to obtain the AC solution of the GaAs MESFET in two dimensions. Comparison of the y-parameters for a GaAs MESFET calculated using the SSSA energy transport model and a two-dimensional Monte Carlo particle model shows close agreement. The convergence properties of the SSSA method are also discussed. >
A developmental gene (Tolloid/BMP-1) is regulated in Aplysia neurons by treatments that induce long-term sensitization

Long-term sensitization training, or procedures that mimic the training, produces long-term facilitation of sensory-motor neuron synapses in Aplysia. The long-term effects of these procedures require mRNA and protein synthesis (Montarolo et al., 1986; Castellucci et al., 1989). Using the techniques of differential display reverse transcription PCR (DDRT-PCR) and ribonuclease protection assays (RPA), we identified a cDNA whose mRNA level was increased significantly in sensory neurons by treatments of isolated pleural-pedal ganglia with serotonin for 1.5 hr or by long-term behavioral training of Aplysia. The effects of serotonin and behavioral training on this mRNA were mimicked by treatments that elevate cAMP. The Aplysia mRNA increased by serotonin and behavioral training was 41‐45% identical to a developmentally regulated gene family which includes Drosophila tolloid and human bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP-1). Both tolloid and BMP-1 encode metalloproteases that might activate TGF-b (transforming growth factor b)-like molecules or process procollagens.Aplysia tolloid/BMP1-like protein (apTBL-1) might regulate the morphology and efficacy of synaptic connections between sensory and motor neurons, which are associated with long-term sensitization.
Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy: effect of resident training on complications.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize the safety of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy and examine the effect of resident training on the occurrence of complications. Methods Five hundred consecutive infants who underwent laparoscopic pyloromyotomy between January 1997 and December 2005 were reviewed and analyzed. Results Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was successfully completed in 489 patients (97.8%). Four hundred seventeen patients were boys (83%). Intraoperative complication occurred in 8 (1.6%) patients (mucosal perforation, 7; serosal injury to the duodenum, 1). All were immediately recognized and uneventfully repaired. Six patients (1.2%) required revision pyloromyotomy for persistent or recurrent gastric outlet obstruction. There were 7 wound complications (1.4%) and no deaths. Pediatric surgery residents performed 81% of the operations, whereas 16% were done by general surgery residents (postgraduate years 3-4). There was a 5.4-fold increased risk of mucosal perforation or incomplete pyloromyotomy when a general surgery resident rather than a pediatric surgery resident performed the operation (95% confidence interval, 1.8-15.8; P = .003). These effects persisted even after controlling for weight, age, and attending experience. Conclusions The laparoscopic pyloromyotomy has an excellent success rate with low morbidity. The occurrence of complications is increased when the operation is performed by a general surgery resident, even when directly supervised by pediatric surgical faculty.
Experiments Are Revealing a Foundation Species: A Case Study of Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Foundation species are species that create and define particular ecosystems; control in large measure the distribution and abundance of associated flora and fauna; and modulate core ecosystem processes, such as energy flux and biogeochemical cycles. However, whether a particular species plays a foundational role in a system is not simply asserted. Rather, it is a hypothesis to be tested, and such tests are best done with large-scale, long-term manipulative experiments. The utility of such experiments is illustrated through a review of the Harvard Forest Hemlock Removal Experiment (HF-HeRE), a multidecadal, multihectare experiment designed to test the foundational role of eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, in eastern North American forests. Experimental removal of T. canadensis has revealed that after 10 years, this species has pronounced, long-term effects on associated flora and fauna, but shorter-term effects on energy flux and nutrient cycles. We hypothesize that on century-long scales, slower changes in soil microbial associates will further alter ecosystem processes in T. canadensis stands. HF-HeRE may indeed continue for >100 years, but at such time scales, episodic disturbances and changes in regional climate and land cover can be expected to interact in novel ways with these forests and their foundation species.
Mid-infrared photonics in silicon

Silicon waveguides have, to date, largely been designed to operate near the telecommunication bands in the near infrared. The mid-infrared (MIR) wavelengths, which range from two to twenty microns, are critical for a number of application areas, including chemical bond spectroscopy and thermal imaging. We show results, using commercially available silicon-on-sapphire wafers, for low-loss (4.0 dB/cm) waveguides and what we believe to be the first working microresonators operating at wavelengths around 5.5 um in silicon guides with Q-values as high as 3.0 k. This talk will discuss the applications for mid-infrared integrated photonics in the silicon system, particularly for sensing and nonlinear optics.
Hockey Helmets, Concealed Weapons, and Daylight Saving: A Study of Binary Choices With Externalities

This paper is about binary choices with externalities. These are either-or situations,not choices of degree or quantity. An "externality" is present when you care about my choice or my choice affects yours. You may not care, but need to know-whether to pass on left or right when we meet. You may not need to know, but care---you will drive whether or not I drive--- but prefer that I keep off the road.You may both care and need to know. The literature of externalities has mostly to do with how much of a good or a bad should be produced,consumed,or allowed.HereI consider only the interdependence of choices to do or not to do, to join or not to join, to stay or to leave, to vote yes or no, to conform or not to conform to some agreement or rule or restriction. Players will accept hockey helmets (or not) by individual choice for several reasons. Chicago star Bobby Hull cites the simplest factor: "vanity." But many players honestly believe that helmets will cut their efficiency and put them at a disadvantage, and others fear the ridicule of opponents. The use of helmets will spread only through fear caused by injuries like Green's-or through a rule making them mandatory. . . One player summed up the feelings of many: "It's foolish not to wear a helmet. But I don't because the other guys don't. I know that' silly, but most of the players feel the same way. If the league made us do it, though, we'd all wear them and nobody would mind." Shortly after Teddy Green of the Bruins took a hockey stick in his brain, the player, Don Awrey, commented to a Newsweek(1969) reporter, "WhenI saw the way Teddy looked, it was an awful feeling . . . I'm going to start wearing a helmet now, and I don't care what anybody says." A voluntary helmet may be seen as cowardly,but nobody thinks a baseball player timid when he dons the batting helmet without which the league will not let him bat. Motorcycle helmets are not only worn regularly,but probably worn more gladly, in states that require them. When ever ascribed motives matter, the way a choice is organized or constrained will itself be a part of the "outcome" and affect the payoffs.
Conservative QCA Gate (CQCA) for Designing Concurrently Testable Molecular QCA Circuits

Nanocircuits based on molecular QCA are prone to high error rates. In this paper, we present a novel conservative logic gate termed 'CQCA' (conservative QCA) to design concurrently testable circuits for molecular QCA. In conservative logic gates, there would be an equal number of 1s in the output as there would be on the input. Thus, conservative logic gates are parity preserving, that is, the parity of the input vectors is equal to the output vectors. CQCA is proposed in this work as molecular QCA is based on majority voting. We analyzed the fault patterns in existing popular conservative Fredkin gate and proposed CQCA gate due to single missing/additional cell defect in molecular QCA. We found that if there is a fault in molecular QCA implementation of Fredkin and CQCA gates, there is a parity mismatch between the input and the output; otherwise the input parity is same as output parity. Thus, any permanent and transient fault in molecular QCA can be concurrently detected if implemented with conservative Fredkin and CQCA gates. We applied novel method of using majority and minority voting to detect the fault in conservative gates. We propose to use CQCA gate compared to existing popular Fredkin gate as CQCA excels Fredkin gate in parameters of complexity(number of majority voter), speed and area. The results are well supported by synthesizing standard benchmark combinational functions. The QCA design of 2 pair 2 rail checker is also presented for the first time ever in literature. The design of QCA layouts and the verification of the designs are performed using the QCADesigner and HDLQ tools.
An XML-based framework for temporal database implementation

This paper presents an XML-based approach to implementing the parametric model of temporal databases. In the parametric model, attribute values are functions of time and the entire history of an object is modeled in terms of a single tuple. This property makes it difficult to adapt the parametric model within the conventional databases. However, XML is an attractive option for implementation because data boundaries are not problematic in XML. Native XML storage with pagination is used for storing temporal data and the DOM parser for the paginated XML storage is used for data access. The primitives for the query language are implemented using the DOM parser. Many artifacts, such as parse tree and expression tree are also represented in XML. We hope that this paradigm offers an elegant approach for implementation of complex data models.
Cycles and trends in solar irradiance and climate

How—indeed whether—the Sun's variable energy outputs influence Earth's climate has engaged scientific curiosity for more than a century. Early evidence accrued from correlations of assorted solar and climate indices, and from recognition that cycles near 11, 88 and 205 years are common in both the Sun and climate.1, 2 But until recently, an influence of solar variability on climate, whether through cycles or trends, was usually dismissed because climate simulations with (primarily) simple energy balance models indicated that responses to the decadal solar cycle would be so small as to be undetectable in observations.3 However, in the past decade modeling studies have found both resonant responses and positive feedbacks in the ocean-atmosphere system that may amplify the response to solar irradiance variations.4, 5 Today, solar cycles and trends are recognized as important components of natural climate variability on decadal to centennial time scales. Understanding solar-terrestrial linkages is requisite for the comprehensive understanding of Earth's evolving environment. The attribution of present-day climate change, interpretation of changes prior to the industrial epoch, and forecast of future decadal climate change necessitate quantitative understanding of how, when, where, and why natural variability, including by the Sun, may exceed, obscure or mitigate anthropogenic changes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Three D displays in military applications

The evolution to 3D content is considered to be the next quantum leap in the movie industry, and is currently taking place. The prospect of the home entertainment industry adopting 3D is causing display manufacturers to develop 3D compatible products. In the past, 3D displays have often been limited by poor image quality. The current generation of 3D displays can have image quality that approaches that of their 2D counterparts. 3D content has found its way to the cinema and is seeking a way into the home, but will it have a place in the military environment? This paper discusses the current status of 3D display technology and its suitability to the military ground mobile environment. It includes an introduction to 3D visualization and examines issues such as implementation, image quality, and human factors.
Whole genome phylogenies for multiple Drosophila species

Reconstructing the evolutionary history of organisms using traditional phylogenetic methods may suffer from inaccurate sequence alignment. An alternative approach, particularly effective when whole genome sequences are available, is to employ methods that don’t use explicit sequence alignments. We extend a novel phylogenetic method based on Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to reconstruct the phylogeny of 12 sequenced Drosophila species. SVD analysis provides accurate comparisons for a high fraction of sequences within whole genomes without the prior identification of orthologs or homologous sites. With this method all protein sequences are converted to peptide frequency vectors within a matrix that is decomposed to provide simplified vector representations for each protein of the genome in a reduced dimensional space. These vectors are summed together to provide a vector representation for each species, and the angle between these vectors provides distance measures that are used to construct species trees. An unfiltered whole genome analysis (193,622 predicted proteins) strongly supports the currently accepted phylogeny for 12 Drosophila species at higher dimensions except for the generally accepted but difficult to discern sister relationship between D. erecta and D. yakuba. Also, in accordance with previous studies, many sequences appear to support alternative phylogenies. In this case, we observed grouping of D. erecta with D. sechellia when approximately 55% to 95% of the proteins were removed using a filter based on projection values or by reducing resolution by using fewer dimensions. Similar results were obtained when just the melanogaster subgroup was analyzed. These results indicate that using our novel phylogenetic method, it is possible to consult and interpret all predicted protein sequences within multiple whole genomes to produce accurate phylogenetic estimations of relatedness between Drosophila species. Furthermore, protein filtering can be effectively applied to reduce incongruence in the dataset as well as to generate alternative phylogenies.