cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Space-time evolution of nonlinear three-wave interactions. II. Interaction in an inhomogeneous medium

The effects of dephasing due to spatial inhomogenelty on the space-time evolution (two-dimensional steady state) of nonlinear three-wave interactions are described. After summarizing previous work on the inhomogeneous-medium three-wave equations, the authors describe an inverse scattering transform for these equations. They then use this transform along with numerical integration of the equations to determine the effects of inhomogeneity on the nonlinear evolution of decay, backscatter, and explosive interactions. The effects include modified threshold conditions for explosive instabilities and modified conditions for optimal energy transfer in two-pump interactions. Energy transfer in both absolute and convective decay interactions in an inhomogeneous medium is found to plateau and then decrease with increasing pump width, in striking contrast to homogeneous-medium interactions. A suppression of the nonlinear modulation in stimulated backscatter is described. A time-asymptotic solution for the spatial profiles of daughter waves is given for the absolute instability.
Refined QTLs of osteoporosis-related traits by linkage analysis with genome-wide SNPs: Framingham SHARe

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using high-density array of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) offer an unbiased strategy to identify new candidate genes for osteoporosis. We used a subset of autosomal SNPs from the Affymetrix 500K+50K SNP GeneChip marker set to examine genetic linkage with multiple highly heritable osteoporosis-related traits, including BMD of the hip and spine, heel ultrasound (attenuation and speed of sound), and geometric indices of the hip, in two generations from the Framingham Osteoporosis Study. Variance component linkage analysis was performed using normalized residuals (adjusted for age, height, BMI, and estrogen status in women). Multipoint linkage analyses produced LOD scores > or =3.0 for BMD on chromosomes (chr.) 9 and 11 and for ultrasound speed of sound on chr. 5. Hip geometric traits were linked with higher LOD scores, such as with shaft width on chr. 4 (LOD=3.9) and chr. 16 (LOD=3.8) and with shaft section modulus on chr. 22 (LOD=4.0). LOD score > or =5.0 was obtained for femoral neck width on chr. 7. In conclusion, with an SNP-based linkage approach, we identified several novel potential QTLs and confirmed previously identified chromosomal regions linked to bone mass and geometry. Subsequent focus on the spectrum of genetic polymorphisms in these refined regions may contribute to finding variants predisposing to osteoporosis.
Literacy and cultural adaptations for cognitive behavioral therapy in a rural pain population

Low literacy and chronic pain have been identified as significant problems in the rural USA. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely used efficacious psychosocial treatment for chronic pain; adaptations for low-literacy rural populations are lacking. This paper reports on preparatory steps implemented to address this deficit. Adapting an existing group, CBT patient workbook for rural adults with low literacy is described, and adaptations to reduce cognitive demand inherent in CBT are explained via cognitive load theory. Adhering to health literacy guidelines, the patient workbook readability was lowered to the fifth grade. Two key informant interviews and four focus groups provided the impetus for structural and procedural adaptations. Using health literacy guidelines and participant feedback, the patient workbook and treatment approach were adapted for implementation in low-literacy rural adult chronic pain populations, setting the stage for proceeding with a larger trial using the adapted materials.
An Update on Evidence-Based Psychosocial Treatments for Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Eating disorders are relatively common and serious disorders in adolescents. However, there are few controlled psychosocial intervention studies with this younger population. This review updates a previous Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology review published in 2008. The recommendations in this review were developed after searching the literature including PubMed/Medline and employing the relevant medical subject headings. In addition, the bibliographies of book chapters and treatment guideline articles were reviewed; last, colleagues were asked for suggested additional source materials. Psychosocial treatments examined include family therapy, individual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive training, and dialectical behavior therapy. Using the most recent Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology methodological review criteria, family treatment–behavior (FT-B) is the only well-established treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Fa...
Symptomatic tachydysrhythmias after esophagectomy: incidence and outcome measures.

Background. Supraventricular tachydysrhythmias (SVT) after esophageal operations for carcinoma occur frequently and may be associated with increased morbidity. Prospective data on the etiology, incidence, and importance of these dysrhythmias are sparse. Methods. In 100 consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomy without prior history of atrial dysrhythmias or receiving antiarrhythmics, we prospectively examined the effects of predefined risk factors by history and pulmonary function on the 30-day incidence of symptomatic postoperative SVT, need for intensive care unit admission, and mortality rate. Results. Symptomatic postoperative SVT occurred in 13 (13%) of the 100 patients studied at a median of 3 days after operation and was accompanied by hypotension in 9/13 (69%). Univariate correlates of SVT were older age (p = 0.03), perioperative use of theophylline (p = 0.044), and a low carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (measured in 56% of patients) on preoperative pulmonary function. Patients in whom SVT developed had a higher rate of intensive care unit admission (p = 0.0001) and a longer hospital stay (p = 0.036). Although patients in whom SVT developed had a higher (p = 0.013) 30-day mortality rate, SVT was not the direct cause of death. Conclusions. These prospective data show that the true incidence of symptomatic SVT within 30 days of esophagectomy is lower than previously reported. Occurrence of SVT was associated with significant morbidity. Older age was the strongest predictor of SVT after esophagectomy. In high-risk patients, continued monitoring (48 to 72 hours) and early interventions to decrease the incidence of postoperative SVT may improve overall surgical outcomes.
Rotator cuff dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Periarticular shoulder problems, particularly those involving the rotator cuff, are commonly found in the general population. Although synovitis of the glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints may be seen in rheumatiod arthritis (RA), periarticular shoulder problems may also occur. The objective of this study was to define the prevalence of shoulder symptoms and periarticular shoulder abnormalities in a group of RA patients and to correlate findings on physical examination with those obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Shoulder function was evaluated by history, physical examination, roentgenogram, and MRI in a group of older, male RA patients; 82% of the 40 patients evaluated had a history of shoulder pain, and 88% had an abnormal physical examination. The most frequent abnormality involved the rotator cuff musculature. Plain roentgenograms were abnormal in only 10 of the 26 (38%) patients. In contrast, abnormalities were noted on MRI in 13 of 14 patients studied (93%). The most frequent MRI abnormalities related to the rotator cuff, with a spectrum of abnormalities ranging from mild inflammatory changes through compete tendon tears. Of note, in all 14 patients undergoing MRI, physical examination findings correlated with abnormalities noted on MRI.Problems referred to the shoulder may be very common in RA patients. Rotator cuff dysfunction was the most common cause of shoulder problems in a population of older, male RA patients. A thorough physical examination often establishes the cause of these problems.
Visualization and Characterization of Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimers by Atomic Force Microscopy

Poly(amidoamine), or PAMAM, dendrimers in the G5−G10 range were imaged by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). Individual dendrimer molecules could be clearly observed in the AFM images, which showed that these dendritic particles appear to be monodispersed, dome-shaped, and randomly distributed on the mica surface. Molecular diameter and height can also be measured from each particle's profile section from the AFM line scans. The diameter and height data were used to calculate the molecular volume of each single molecule. Absolute molecular weight and polydispersity were then estimated for each dendrimer generation. The calculated molecular weights for G5−G8 were in very good agreement with theoretical values. In addition, lower generation dendrimers, such as G4, were also studied by AFM. Although individual molecules of G4 dendrimer could not be imaged, the surface morphology of G4 dendrimer films on mica at different surface densities was observed by AFM.
Formation and Stability of Impurity “Snakes” in Tokamak Plasmas

New observations of the formation and dynamics of long-lived impurity-induced helical "snake" modes in tokamak plasmas have recently been carried-out on Alcator C-Mod. The snakes form as an asymmetry in the impurity ion density that undergoes a seamless transition from a small helically displaced density to a large crescent-shaped helical structure inside q < 1, with a regularly sawtoothing core. The observations show that the conditions for the formation and persistence of a snake cannot be explained by plasma pressure alone. Instead, many features arise naturally from nonlinear interactions in a 3D MHD model that separately evolves the plasma density and temperature
Trunk-Assisted Prehension: Specification of Body Segments With Imposed Temporal Constraints

The authors used a trunk-assisted prehension task to examine intersegment coordination. Participants (N = 7) reached to grasp an object placed beyond full arm extension, thus requiring trunk flexion to achieve the target object, under 4 varying temporal constraints. Kinematic analyses were performed in which the motions of the arm, the trunk, and the endpoint were characterized. The spatial trajectories and the segments' peak velocity data revealed that under high temporal constraints the arm was more responsible for endpoint motion than the trunk, whereas in the unconstrained condition the trunk was more involved. In addition, the arm exhibited a decline in spatial variability toward the end of the movement in all conditions, whereas the trunk did not. The present study is the first to show that when temporal demand is increased for a trunk-assisted prehensile task, the arm plays a larger role than the trunk in the transport of the hand to the object. The data also suggest that the arm participates in the fine accuracy control of the reach, whereas the trunk does not.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in left main stem coronary stenosis: a five-year appraisal

Abstract Left main stem coronary stenosis is now uniformly treated with coronary artery bypass grafting. The advent of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty has permitted a non-operative improvement in myocardial blood flow in many cases of single- and multi-vessel coronary atherosclerosis. The use of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in left main stem coronary stenosis has been sporadic and controversial. Twenty percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties were attempted in 19 patients as the treatment of choice for left main stem coronary stenosis in the past 66 months. The primary success rate was 95% (1920 patients). The emergency surgery was performed only once (5%), and no death occurred secondary to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty itself. In the follow-up (mean 41 months) period, 12 patients (63%) remained in satisfactory condition with no further need for surgical intervention. Seven patients (37%) ultimately required coronary artery bypass grafting. Although coronary artery bypass grafting will remain the fundamental treatment for left main stem coronary stenosis, this series delineates those anatomic and clinical exceptions wherein percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty may be utilized as the primary therapy for left main stem coronary stenosis.
Adjacent assembly of self-assembled monolayers for the construction of selective bio-platforms

Abstract Selective patterning of bio-substances onto solid platforms is of increasing importance in many areas and widely used for various applications ranging from bio-sensing to cell and tissue engineering. In this study, a new fabrication scheme for the construction of highly selective bio-platforms is presented. The method is based on a direct patterning of poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) bio-inert layers on a conducting indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate using electron beam lithography and subsequent assembly of modified amine reactive layers onto the exposed areas. The process is found to create very high “surface contrast” between adhesive and repulsive regions onto the substrate. The platforms are shown to be enable efficient for selective adsorption of a variety of bio-substances including protein arrays, latex beads, and single cells. The high resolution of the technique makes it also applicable for the construction and deposition of bio-structures at the sub-micron scale. The reported technique employs standard lithography and surface chemistry processes, which makes it useful and easy to adopt for a variety of applications and other conductive substrates.
Quantification of the esthetics of dentists' before and after photographs.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to measure dentists’ before and after restorative treatment photographs to identify four metrics to describe the esthetic improvement: (a) central incisor width-to-height ratio; (b) central-to-lateral incisor width ratio; (c) lateral incisor-to-canine width ratio; and (d) lateral incisor percentage offset. Materials and methods Internet searches for “before after” and “veneers” and “prosthodontic” were used to obtain 198 before and after photographs of patient treatments showing the restoration of the six maxillary anterior teeth with porcelain veneers, crowns or a combination. The four metrics were measured using Adobe Photoshop. Groups were compared with repeated measures ANOVA followed by a post hoc Tukey–Kramer test with the variables of “Before or After Treatment”; “Treatment Type” (veneers, crowns or a combination) and “General Dentist or Prosthodontist”. Results Mean central incisor width-to-height ratio was 91.7% before treatment, 80.8% after; mean central-to-lateral incisor width ratios were 69.9% and 64.7%; mean lateral incisor-to-canine width ratios were 85.3% and 81.4% and lateral incisor percentage offsets were 9.6% and 8.7%. There were significant (p Conclusions On average, esthetic prosthetic treatment resulted in reduced central incisor width-to-height ratio, increased proportional width of the mesially positioned tooth of adjacent anterior teeth and reduced lateral incisor offset. The mean values of treatments by GPs and prosthodontists were not statistically significantly different. Clinical implications Knowledge of dentists’ optimal restorative treatments provides insight on the esthetic outcome of extensive prosthodontic therapy.
Integrated Power Controlled Rate Adaptation and Medium Access Control in Wireless Mesh Networks

In this paper, a new mathematical programming model and assignment algorithms are developed for minimizing the schedule length in adaptive power and adaptive rate link scheduling in spatial-TDMA wireless networks. The underlying problem entails the optimal joint scheduling of transmissions across multi-access communication links combined with the simultaneous allocation of transmit power levels and data rates across active links, while meeting required Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) levels at intended receivers. We prove that the problem can be modeled as a Mixed Integer-Linear Programming (MILP) and show that the latter yields a solution that consists of transmit power levels that are strongly Pareto Optimal. We note this problem to be NP-complete. For comparison purposes, we employ the MILP formulation for computing the optimal schedule for networks with small number of designated links and limited number of data rate levels. We proceed to develop and investigate a heuristic algorithm of polynomial complexity for solving the problem in a computationally effective manner. The algorithm is based on the construction of a Power Controlled Rate adaptation Interference Graph. The desired schedule is then derived by using a greedy algorithm to construct an independence set from this graph. Based on system analyses, we show, for smaller illustrative networks, the performance behavior realized by the heuristic algorithms to generally be in the 75 percentile of those attained by the optimal schedule. We also show that performance of our heuristic algorithm is on average 20% better than that attained under prior algorithms that were developed for use under fixed transmit power and fixed rate link scheduling.
Parallel GeoFEST for regional faulted deformation

The GeoFEST application, which can accurately simulate deformation and stress in a faulted region of the earth's crust and mantle in the presence of heterogeneous rheology, faulting, tectonic loading, and viscoelastic relaxation, is a scalable parallel application well suited for the largest supercomputers. In order to achieve such scaling, the authors implemented a carefully choreographed algorithm using the Message Passing interface (MPI) calls, made use of parallel partitioning and data management functions from the PYRAMID and ParMetis libraries, and designed a technique for using the strain energy density from an initial scratch elastic solution to direct PYRAMID in performing parallel adaptive mesh refinement. An example problem follows that illustrates how an initial geometry and mesh designed on a laptop computer is automatically processed on hundreds to thousands of processors using millions of refined finite elements. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding journal usage: A statistical analysis of citation and use

This study examined the relationship between print journal use, online journal use, and online journal discovery tools with local journal citations. Local use measures were collected from 1997 to 2004, and negative binomial regression models were designed to test the effect that local use, online availability, and access enhancements have on citation behaviors of academic research authors. Models are proposed and tested to determine whether multiple locally recorded usage measures can predict citations and if locally controlled access enhancements influence citation. The regression results indicated that print journal use was a significant predictor of local journal citations prior to the adoption of online journals. Publisher-provided and locally recorded online journal use measures were also significant predictors of local citations. Online availability of a journal was found to significantly increase local citations, and, for some disciplines, a new access tool like an OpenURL resolver significantly impacts citations and publisher-provided journal usage measures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identified Phases in the Building and Maintaining of Positive Teacher-Student Relationships.

Abstract Teacher–student relationships are accepted as influential but the dynamics of those relationships are not well understood, especially with difficult students. A series of interviews were combined with classroom observations and written reflections to understand in what ways a teacher negotiated her relationship with a behaviorally challenging student throughout the school year. Four relationship phases, which are constantly revisited while establishing and maintaining relationships, were identified. Findings indicate that guided reflection and discussion were helpful in the negotiation process. Understandings of how relationships work, the effort required to maintain them and the support necessary for teachers are discussed.
Monocytic differentiation inhibits infection and granulocytic differentiation potentiates infection by the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis

Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is an emerging tick-borne infection with a specific tropism for granulocytes. We previously isolated and cultivated the HGE agent in the promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 and have also demonstrated the susceptibility of both granulocytic and monocytic human marrow progenitors. Circulating monocytes have not been observed to be infected, suggesting that cell susceptibility may be differentiation specific. To evaluate this hypothesis, HL-60 cells were differentiated towards granulocytes (with dimethyl sulfoxide or all-trans retinoic acid) or toward monocytes-macrophages (with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate [TPA], gamma interferon, or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) and then challenged with HGE. HGE binding, internalization, and proliferation were compared in differentiated and untreated control HL-60 cells by immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and Giemsa staining. Granulocytic differentiation resulted in a doubling of HGE binding and enhanced infection consistent with the agent’s clinical tropism for neutrophils. Granulocytic cells were unable to kill internalized ehrlichiae even after activation induced by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe alone or together with tumor necrosis factor alpha. In contrast, monocyte-macrophage differentiation with TPA resulted in complete resistance to infection through at least two distinct mechanisms: (i) reduction in binding and uptake and (ii) killing of any internalized organisms. Diminished binding in TPA-treated cells correlated with their reduced expression of sialyl Lewis x (CD15s), a putative cellular receptor component for HGE. The degree of monocytic differentiation and activation induced (i.e., TPA > gamma interferon > vitamin D3) correlated with resistance to HGE. Thus, HL-60 cells exhibit a striking differentiation-specific susceptibility to HGE. Differentiation-induced changes in bacterial adhesion and killing capacity underlie the tropism of HGE for granulocytic HL-60 cells and, conversely, the resistance of activated macrophages to infection.
Characterization of water-soluble shrimp allergens released during boiling☆☆☆

Abstract Water-soluble shrimp allergens released during boiling (shrimp water) were characterized and compared to allergen extracts from boiled shrimp (shrimp meat). Both shrimp extracts contained acidic proteins (isoelectrofocusing) and demonstrated similar allergenic activity (RAST and RAST inhibition). Shrimp-water extract was analyzed further by immunoprinting with sera from 14 shrimp-sensitive, RAST-positive subjects, and six nonsensitive, RAST-negative individuals. Although none of the sera from shrimp-tolerant individuals reacted, 1214 sera (85.7%) from shrimp-sensitive subjects reacted with shrimp-water proteins with acid isoelectric points. Shrimp-water extract was fractionated by chromatofocusing with pH and NaCl gradients. A number of eluted ultraviolet-absorbing peaks contained allergens as determined by RAST inhibition. Isoelectrofocusing demonstrated many protein bands present in these peaks, some of which bound IgE from a RAST-positive sera pool. These studies indicate that shrimp water is an excellent source of shrimp allergens, that chromatofocusing is a useful method for fractionation of shrimp allergens, and that shrimp allergens are generally protein molecules with acid isoelectric points.
Cloning and molecular analysis of genes affecting expression of binding substance, the recipient-encoded receptor(s) mediating mating aggregate formation in Enterococcus faecalis.

Abstract Transfer of the conjugative plasmid pCF10 in Enterococcus faecalis strains involves production of a plasmid-encoded aggregation substance on the surface of donor cells in response to stimulation by a pheromone secreted by recipient cells. Aggregation substance then facilitates attachment to recipient cells via a chromosomally encoded receptor, termed binding substance (BS). A BS mutant, strain INY3000, generated by random Tn916 insertions, was previously found to carry copies of the transposon at four unique sites (K. M. Trotter and G. M. Dunny, Plasmid 24:57-67, 1990). In the present study, DNA flanking the Tn916 insertions was used to complement the BS mutation of INY3000 following Tn916 excision from cloned chromosomal fragments. Complementation results showed that three of the four regions mutated in INY3000 play some role in BS expression. Tn5 mutagenesis and DNA sequence analysis of the complementing fragment from one of these regions indicated the presence of three genes (ebsA, ebsB, and ebsC) that affect BS expression. The ebsA and ebsB genes encode peptides likely to function in cell wall metabolism, whereas ebsC may encode a product that suppresses the function or expression of EbsB.
SLC positron source-simulation and performance

The main goal of the extensive program of simulation and experiment for the SLC positron system was to establish benchmarks at locations where beam characteristics could be measured well, and to use ray tracing to judge and predict the quality of the positron beam delivered to the SDR (South Damping Ring), to make sure that the beam was within the measured acceptance of the SDR. Performance of the source was found to be in good general agreement with computer simulations with S-band acceleration and, where not, the simulations led to identification of problems, particularly the underestimated impact of linac misalignments due to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. It is suggested that the earthquake resulted in a loss of approximately 20% positron yield during the following year, because the impact of the known misalignment was underestimated. At present the quadrupoles in sector 1 are aligned no better than 0.2 mm RMS. It is suggested that aligning sector 1 to the design value of 0.1 mm should increase the number of positrons at the damping ring by 7%. >
MINDING THE BODY

As we continue to elucidate relationships between neural structures and cognitive functioning in this Decade of the Brain, it is important not to lose sight of the larger context. The brain is but one component of the complex system that is the body. We take in information and interact with the world through our bodies, and our bodies change with—and in some cases change—cognitive and emotional processing. In this introductory paper, we present an overview of a broad range of psychophysiological techniques: electroencephalography, event-related potentials, magnetoencephalography, positron emission tomography, optical imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, electromyograms, eye tracking, pupillometry, cardiovascular measures, and electrodermal activity. These techniques not only differ in their temporal and spatial resolutions but also in the physiological and psychological processes to which they are sensitive. With respect to the system as a whole, these techniques are thus complementary. Combining measures—old and new, central and peripheral—ultimately provides the most inferential power for attacking the questions we hope to answer with all psychophysiological measures in our quest to understand the nature of the relationship between the mind and the body. Descriptors: Psychophysiological techniques, Neuroimaging, Combining methodologies, Mind‐brain‐body system, Cognitive inference drawing
Holding Men Accountable for Prostitution The Unique Approach of the Sexual Exploitation Education Project (SEEP)

The Sexual Exploitation Education Project (SEEP) of Portland, Oregon, is committed to making men more accountable for the persistence of prostitution by focusing attention on the customers who solicit sex from prostituted women. Under a cooperative agreement with the district court, men who are convicted of soliciting prostitution are required to participate in a weekend workshop conducted by SEEP, in which they are educated about the realities of the sex industry and its exploitative nature. Both men and women have been involved in the creation of SEEP and the facilitation of the weekend workshop. This article describes the perspectives that guide the project, the processes through which its unique workshop came into being, and the important and welcome ways that men are contributing to this issue and to this organization.
Global production sharing and trade in the services of factors

This article develops an approach to measuring the factor content of trade when intermediate inputs are traded, and techniques differ for reasons such as factor price differences. An empirical section documents the importance of intermediates and shows that they mitigate cross-country differences in the factor content of finished goods. The performance of recent models of factor service trade is also evaluated. Existing approaches impute the factor content of imported intermediates with domestic techniques and tend to overstate how well those models perform. The framework developed here can help reconcile generalequilibrium trade models with actual patterns of trade. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Formation of Reaction‐Bonded Silicon Nitride Using Microwave Heating

Rod-shaped silicon compacts were nitrided in a microwave applicator using a minimum of insulation in order to maximize the temperature gradients to effect an inside-out reaction. These specimens exhibited very nonuniform conversion to Si3N4, and fully nitrided areas had poor microstructures consisting of alternating regions of high and low density. The key factor was found to be sintering of the silicon powder during initial heating which caused the specimens to be electrically conducting during the early stages of the reaction and led to large changes in the microwave heating behavior of the specimens as they nitrided. The temperature and composition profiles in the specimens were simulated using a numerical model. The results of the model indicated that the observed microstructures were caused by high temperatures and temperature gradients in the areas of maximum nitridation rate which caused silicon vapor to diffuse within the specimens. Some compacts were made from a mixture of silicon powder and silicon nitride powder to avoid sintering of the silicon particles. These specimens nitrided uniformly with inside-out composition profiles, indicating that microwave heating would be beneficial for the nitridation of pure silicon powder compacts if sintering could be avoided.
High-performance climate system modeling using a domain and task decomposition message-passing approach

We have developed a climate system modeling framework (CSMF) for high-performance systems, designed to schedule and couple multiple physics simulation packages in a flexible and transportable manner. Some of the major packages in the CSMF include models of atmospheric and oceanic circulation and chemistry, land surface and sea ice processes, and trace gas biogeochemistry. Parallelism is achieved through both domain decomposition and process-level concurrency, with data transfer and synchronization accomplished through message-passing. Both machine transportability and architecture-dependent optimization are handled through libraries and conditional compile directives. Preliminary experiments with the CSMF have been executed on a number of high-performance platforms, including the Intel Paragon, the TMC CM-5 and the Meiko CS-2, and we are in the very early stages of optimization. Progress to date (1994) is presented. >
Safety of Low Doses of Quetiapine When Used for Insomnia

Objective:To evaluate the safety of low doses of quetiapine when used for insomnia.Data Sources:A literature search was performed using PubMed and EMBASE (January 1990-November 2011) using the terms quetiapine, insomnia, sleep, low-dose, subtherapeutic, safety, and weight gain.Study Selection And Data Extraction::Two prospective trials were identified that evaluated the effect of quetiapine in primary insomnia. In addition, 2 retrospective cohort studies were identified that evaluated the safety of low doses of quetiapine when used for Insomnia. Several case reports on adverse effects with low doses of the drug were also Included.Data Synthesis:Quetiapine is commonly used off-label for treatment of insomnia. When used for sleep, doses typically seen are less than the Food and Drug Administration-recommended dosage of 150-800 mg/day; those evaluated in the studies reviewed here were 25-200 mg/day). At recommended doses, atypical antipsychotics such as quetiapine are associated with metabolic adverse events...
Survival of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy.

Background Enthusiasm for neoadjuvant therapy is growing from the emerging consensus that pancreatic cancer is a systemic disease at the time of diagnosis. Those who remain in favor of upfront surgery often cite the lack of reported data to support alternative treatment sequencing. We therefore report the results of all patients treated outside of a clinical trial under the direction of a multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer working group. Methods We reviewed all patients with resectable pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy (NeoTx) from 2009 to 2013; we excluded those patients treated on prospective clinical trials as they will be the subject of subsequent reports. Data regarding demographics, NeoTx, operative outcomes, pathology, and survival data were abstracted from a prospective database. Results NeoTx was initiated in 69 patients; median age was 65 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 11) and median carbohydrate antigen 19-9 at diagnosis was 96.5 (IQR 210). NeoTx consisted of chemotherapy alone ( n = 10, 14%), chemotherapy and radiation (chemoradiation, n = 53, 77%), or both ( n = 6, 9%). Median carbohydrate antigen 19-9 after NeoTx was 39 (IQR 104) corresponding to a median decrease of 60%. Operative resection was completed in 60 (87%) of the 69 patients. At restaging after NeoTx, 5 (7%) of 69 patients were not considered candidates for surgery because of the development of metastatic disease ( n = 4) or an inadequate performance status ( n = 1). At the time of surgery, 4 (6%) of 64 patients had metastatic disease found at laparoscopy. Of the 60 patients who underwent surgical resection, a complete pathologic response was observed in 2 (3%) patients; 20 (33%) had positive lymph nodes, and the median number of positive lymph nodes was 2 (IQR 3). R0 resections were achieved in 58 (97%) of the 60 patients. Additional postoperative adjuvant therapy was administered to 37 (62%) of the 60 patients. Median survival of all 69 patients was 31.5 months; 44.9 months for the 60 patients who completed all NeoTx and resection compared with 8.1 months for the 9 patients who were not resected (log rank P Conclusion NeoTx for resectable pancreatic cancer was associated with a median overall survival of 32 months; something not reported for patients treated with surgery first if based on intent-to-treat analysis. Treatment sequencing may provide an oncologic benefit beyond that of the selection bias afforded surgery after a period of induction therapy.
Superstar student staff teams

It has been 10 years since the Student Technology Consultant program at Grinnell College began. It started with 10-12 students who answered phones at the campus Helpdesk and has evolved into a program that enriches the students learning and work experience for their future careers. A common issue for departments who utilize student works is keeping them engaged with their job. The students have to enjoy working as well as getting some kind of reward for their efforts. With small budgets, this can often be a challenge for the IT departments.Once you hire the right people and they complete the training program, there are many other ways to keep them engaged in their work, so that you are able to benefit from their work during their tenure with the college or university. At Grinnell College, I have implemented a student leadership team, project leadership, certification programs, a special senior achievement, volunteer opportunities and social events which all contribute to the successful retention of the student staff. In 10 years, I have had only a a few students be terminated or quit their job with IT Services.Explore the ways in which you can engage your student staff, keep them motivated and create an amazing team that will not only benefit the technology users on campus, but also give them opportunities for learning and experience that will benefit their future endeavors.
The neural correlates of belief bias: activation in inferior frontal cortex reflects response rate differences.

The belief bias effect in reasoning (Evans et al., 1983) is the tendency for logical problems with believable conclusions (e.g., some addictive things are not cigarettes) to elicit more positive responses than those with unbelievable conclusions (some cigarettes are not addictive things). The effect of believability interacts with conclusion validity (see the lower rows of Table ​Table11 for example data), leading many researchers to conclude that reasoning accuracy is greater for problems with unbelievable conclusions (e.g., Oakhill and Johnson-Laird, 1985; Newstead et al., 1992; Quayle and Ball, 2000). Dube et al. (2010, 2011) [see also Heit and Rotello (2014)] demonstrated that the typical ANOVA analysis of these behavioral data was inappropriate, and showed that a signal detection based interpretation of the data reached a different conclusion, namely that the effect of conclusion believability was to shift subjects’ response bias to be more liberal. Trippas et al. (2013) also concluded that conclusion believability consistently affected response bias, but that reasoning accuracy was additionally affected by believability under certain conditions (i.e., higher cognitive ability, complex syllogisms, unlimited decision time).
Azole Drug Import into the Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus

The fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus causes serious illness and often death when it invades tissues, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The azole class of drugs is the most commonly prescribed treatment for many fungal infections and acts on the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. One common mechanism of acquired azole drug resistance in fungi is the prevention of drug accumulation to toxic levels in the cell. While drug efflux is a well-known resistance strategy, reduced azole import would be another strategy to maintain low intracellular azole levels. Recently, azole uptake in Candida albicans and other yeasts was analyzed using [(3)H]fluconazole. Defective drug import was suggested to be a potential mechanism of drug resistance in several pathogenic fungi, including Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida krusei, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have adapted and developed an assay to measure azole accumulation in A. fumigatus using radioactively labeled azole drugs, based on previous work done with C. albicans. We used this assay to study the differences in azole uptake in A. fumigatus isolates under a variety of drug treatment conditions, with different morphologies and with a select mutant strain with deficiencies in the sterol uptake and biosynthesis pathway. We conclude that azole drugs are specifically selected and imported into the fungal cell by a pH- and ATP-independent facilitated diffusion mechanism, not by passive diffusion. This method of drug transport is likely to be conserved across most fungal species.
Handwashing compliance depends on professional status.

Background: Nosocomial infections can be transmitted from microorganisms on the hands of health care workers to patients. Handwashing (HW) has a proven benefit in preventing transmission of infection, yet compliance with handwashing, especially in intensive care units, ranges between 28% and 74%. Methods: To determine if HW behavior varies as a function of health care professional status and patient interaction, we conducted an observational study of a surgical intermediate care unit in a large university teaching hospital. HW compliance was observed among all health care workers (HCW): physicians (MD; N = 46), nurses (RN; N = 295), and nursing support personnel (NSP; N = 93). Over an 8-week period, unidentified, trained observers documented all HCW interactions in 1-h random blocks. HW opportunities were classified into low and high risk of pathogen acquisition and transmission. Results: A total of 493 HW opportunities were observed, of which 434 involved MD, RN, and NSP. Two hundred and sixty-one low-ri...
Medical Shadow: On the Privacy Protection of Personal Health Information Online in Canada

This paper deals with the use of the Internet in seeking health information and the privacy issues that consequently arise. I discuss the trend toward online health research, how data are collected by web sites and especially third-party advertisers, and the reasons that the privacy of such data should be protected. I conclude that existing Ontario and Canadian legislation does not adequately protect the privacy of this sensitive information, and suggest changes that would allow individuals to seek health information online with confidence that their rights are not unduly infringed.
Field report: medical response to super typhoon Haiyan

This report describes the experience and observations during a humanitarian medical response 10 days after landfall of Typhoon Haiyan in the Leyte Island region of the Philippines. Loss of availability of local health care providers was observed to affect the ability of the local community to provide for immediate, post-event medical relief.
History of Rotavirus Vaccines Part I: RotaShield

According to hieroglyphic evidence, diarrhea is one of the oldest recorded illnesses, dating as far back as 3300 bc [1]. However, despite major discoveries in microbiology during the past century, the etiology of most diarrheal illnesses remained elusive until relatively recently [2, 3]. Although volunteer studies in the 1940s and 1950s showed that oral administration of bacteria-free stool filtrates derived from patients with diarrhea could induce illness, a suspected viral etiologic agent could not be identified.
Hydrophobicity and Biofilm Growth of E-coli RP437, MG1655 and B/r

Two strains of E-Coli K-12, viz, RP437, MG1655 and B/r (E. coli B derivative, not a K-12 strain) were grown on various surfaces to study bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation. We observed biofilm and large colonies on cover slides, beads made of soda lime or borosilicate glasses, on plasma treated PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane), on Tissue Culture (TC) polystyrene, and observed some clusters on plasma treated ZnTi cover slide; but no evidence of biofilm on untreated-PDMS and ZnTi glass cover slides. From contact angle measurements, we conclude that the hydrophobic nature of untreated PDMS prevent bacterial adhesion for these three strains.
Control of Asterolecanium Scales and Cynipid Leaf Galls on Oak in Northern California

Field trials conducted during 1962-63 in northern California on valley oak, Quercus lobata Nee, showed that sprays of carbaryl, dimethoate, diazinon, and malathion, all with oil, gave effective control of Asterolecanium pit scales when applied in early May. Studies on timing of application indicated that good control of scales is possible with applications made from late April until at least early June. Bidrin® (3-hydroxy- N,N -dimethyl- cis -croton-amide dimethyl phosphate), applied as a trunk injectant, reduced scale numbers only 69% but gave excellent control of leaf galls caused by 6 species of Cynipidae. The use of carbaryl as a spray in late April or early May also resulted in outstanding control of certain leaf galls.
Corruption and Legitimation Crises in Latin America

Without doubt, pervasive corruption may undermine a government’s legitimacy. Citizens may lose faith in political and legal institutions and become cynical or rebel. Ultimately, the very survival of the polity may be at stake. This paper deals with these issues, but at a rather specific conceptual level. In particular, I intend to explore the notion of a legitimation crisis and its implications for the issue of corruption in Latin America. This exercise will make it possible to appreciate how corrupt practices debilitate the state’s claim to justification.Indeed, the notion of a legitimation crisis helps to illuminate the problem of governmental dishonesty in Latin America. If properly reinterpreted, it enables one to grasp corruption as an endemic threat to the normative identity of the national communities. The concept may describe a situation in which these collectivities must, at the outset, transition from an instrumental to a reflexive construction of legitimacy norms, such as autonomy, legality, and equality, in order effectively to regenerate a corrupt bureaucracy and, thereafter, struggle to recognize themselves after the changeover.Accordingly, one should not respond to the challenge exclusively in a technical manner, such as with the enactment of tougher laws or with the implementation of more drastic enforcement mechanisms. Nor should one take a merely motivational approach, in the sense of U.S. psychologist David McClelland, rather than that of Habermas. In other words, one should not solely seek to change the attitude or the prevailing professional culture in civil service. Instead, Latin American societies must embark upon an unlikely radical crusade to transform the way in which they understand themselves, particularly the premises of their social integration. Against all odds, they must genuinely commit to and identify with democracy, the rule of law, and solidarity.
Optimized Scheme for Provincial Power Synchronization Network

Based on the current situation of network and combined with theoretical analysis and simulation method,this paper discusses the provincial power communication synchronization network.On the basis of synchronization theory, planning and optimization methods,some suggestions and solutions are proposed for the problem in provincial power communication synchronization network.
Increased intracellular calcium in rat anterior piriform cortex in response to threonine after threonine deprivation.

Increased intracellular calcium in rat anterior piriform cortex in response to threonine after threonine deprivation The anterior piriform cortex (APC) may serve as the chemosensor for amino acid (...
Machiavelli among the doctors: The Prince and divine accommodation

This study will illustrate and reflect on how Niccolo Machiavelli shared terminology and a pattern of thought with contemporary theologians of ‘divine accommodation’. This is the idea that God, while remaining immutable, ‘accommodates’ himself to humankind's variety and to changing times in order to reveal himself profitably to his fallen creations. Theologians extended the capacity for accommodation to Christ's disciples and apostles, especially Paul. According to Machiavelli, the ideal Prince or ruler accommodates himself to the changing times and variety of circumstances by choosing among an unlimited diversity of human natures and utilizing them as the times require in order to achieve his ends. It is argued, therefore, that Machiavelli secularizes divine accommodation and transposes the powers of infinite adaptability and flexibility on to the ideal rulling prince. Machiavelli acknowledges, however, that his ideal is generally impracticable; humans have given natures, and most lack the capacity to tr...