cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Women middle managers’ perception of the glass ceiling

Women now represent approximately half of the working population in the USA. In 1996, the US Department of Labor reported that women comprised 44 percent of the total persons employed in executive, administrative and managerial occupations. However, this category is extremely broad, and women are grossly underrepresented at the top executive positions of Fortune 500 corporations. In 1995 the Federal Glass Ceiling Commission produced two reports: the first finding the existence of a glass ceiling; and the second presenting strategic recommendations on what corporations could do to remove or reduce these findings. Explores how women in middle management perceive their career advancement opportunities and what they consider their organizations to be doing to support their advancement. Overall, results suggest that the glass ceiling is still an issue for women within organizations. Finally, the business implications of this are considered.
Model-reduction for a class of flexible manufacturing system

An approach is presented to modeling and model-reduction of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) with m workpieces processing on n machines, called n*m FMS. By using max-algebra, the linear system expressions can be established for this kind of typical discrete-event dynamic system (DEDS). The reduced-order model of the system is established by taking the activities of machine processing some workpiece as the state variables. The steady-state running rhythm and the influence of workpieces input just in time on dynamic behavior of the system are discussed. Some results are extended to an FMS with a finite buffer. >
Variational formula for antenna impedance in a warm magnetoplasma

Variational formula for antenna impedance in warm magnetoplasma, considering force and fluid-flux distribution
Purification of a membrane-associated serine esterase from murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes by a single reverse-phase column.

Abstract The plasma and organelle membranes of a cytotoxic T lymphocyte line, CTLL-R8, were isolated by subcellular fractionation. After dissolving in detergent-containing buffer, the membrane proteins were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography on a single reverse-phase column. The serine esterase activity in the fractions was detected by measuring hydrolysis of the ester compound N α -benzyloxycarbonyl- l -lysine thiobenzyl ester. A major band was revealed in the fraction with highest serine esterase activity. Under sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, this band assumes a molecular weight of about 30 kDa. The amino-terminal sequence of the protein was analyzed and shows 100% identity with that of MCSP-3/granzyme F, a soluble serine esterase previously identified in the cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Modifications of this reverse-phase column method would thus represent a simple, convenient strategy for obtaining high yields of all the lymphocyte surface proteases, which could then be further characterized for function.
Application of a solvation shell analysis to the diffusivity of an interstitial species in binary substitutional solutions

Abstract A model is presented for the effect of substitutional solute elements on the diffusion coefficient of an interstitial species for low concentrations of both solutes. The model is based on the theory of absolute reaction rates and a Wagner random, noninteractive model for the substitutional solution, with Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics for the distribution of the interstitial atoms. Simplifying assumptions are made concerning the configuration of activated complexes, treating them as formed by the interstitial atom and the two nearest lattice atoms. The calculations are compared with experimental data reviewed for the diffusivity of carbon in Fe-Cr, Fe-Mn, Fe-Co and Fe-Ni alloys.
Tissue blood flow to the heart. Influence of coronary occlusion and surgical measures.

Regional tissue blood flow to the heart was measured in the dog using deuterium oxide as a tracer substance. The method assumes that the rate of uptake of the tracer by a tissue is limited by the blood flow through the tissue and that the exchange of the tracer between blood and the extravascular space in the organ is instantaneous by comparison. This assumption has had Previous confirmation. Six groups of animals were studied and the results revealed: (1) a uniform distribution of blood flow per unit of weight of tissue between the right ventricle and various parts of the left ventricle; (2) a decrease in tissue blood flow to (0.1 ml./Gm./min., or less), ap proximately 7 per cent of normal in the area supplied by the left anterior descending coronary artery after acute occlusion of this vessel; (3) a failure of two operative procedures designed to increase intercoronary anastomoses to influence this greatly de creased flow, when these procedures were performed six weeks to six months prior to testing; (4...
Competing Orders in Coupled Luttinger Liquids

We consider the problem of two-coupled Luttinger liquids both at half filling and at low doping levels, to investigate the problem of competing orders in quasi-one-dimensional strongly correlated systems. We use bosonization and renormalization group equations to investigate the phase diagrams, to determine the allowed phases, and to establish approximate boundaries among them. Because of the chiral translation and reflection symmetries in the charge mode away from half filling, orders of charge-density wave~CDW! and spin Peierls ~SP!, diagonal current ~DC!, and d-density wave ~DDW! form two doublets and thus can be at most quasilong-range ordered. At half filling, Umklapp terms break this symmetry down to a discrete group and thus Ising-type ordered phases appear as a result of spontaneous breaking of the residual symmetries. Quantum disordered Haldane phases are also found, with finite amplitudes of pairing orders and triplet counterparts of CDW, SP, DC, and DDW. Relations with recent numerical results and implications to similar problems in two dimensions are discussed.
Level of Measurement Once Over Again

The distinctions between nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio measurement were popularized by S. S. Stevens. Unfortunately, positions taken by Stevens have often been disseminated without criticism. One problem is the common assumption that "ordinal" statistics are the best statistics to use for presumed noninterval continuous social variables, when, in fact, they use addition, subtraction, and division, which make the measurements interval by definition. Additionally, the relationship of the normal distribution to interval measurement is commonly misunderstood, the latter existing by definition if a normal distribution exists. Concern with levels of measurements may mislead persons into attending to issues other than maximizing (utility, given) the particular limits of the state of the measurement art in the social sciences.
Little's theorem: a stochastic integral approach

In a previous paper we have given a unified approach to the PASTA and the conditional PASTA property that is based upon the observation that the difference between the two limits can be represented as a stochastic integral with respect to a square integrable martingale. The equality of the two limits is then a consequence of a strong law of large numbers for martingales. In this paper we derive a non-standard version of Little's theorem via the same method. The moral of the story is that each of these theorems is but a particular case of a more general theory.
Comparison of substrate utilization assay and fatty acid analysis of soil microbial communities

Two methods for the characterization of microbial communities in field soil samples were compared. Experimental subplots were established in the Farming Systems Trial at the Rodale Institute Research Center in Kutztown, PA, USA. In the legume system, plots receiving green manure (hairy vetch) were compared to those receiving corn stover and a small amount of rye residue. In the conventional system, samples were collected in plots where corn stover was incorporated. Carbon source utilization profiles were developed using Biolog plates, while total soil fatty acids were determined by fatty acid methyl ester analysis. Principal component analysis and canonical discriminate analysis were used to analyze the data. The two methods gave similar but not identical results. Management history had more effect than specific crop residue, but temporal effects were greater than treatment effects. Certain shifts in microbial communities were detected by fatty acid analysis but not by carbon utilization assay, suggesting that changes in microbial species composition occurred that were not accompanied by changes in microbial community function.
Pulse coding and coherent decoding in fibre-optic ladder networks

Optical pulse coding/decoding can be achieved in a more energy-efficient manner in fibre ladder networks than in other proposed networks. Coherent recombination of the pulses in matched two-fibre networks can also be used to enhance decoding. We have demonstrated these principles in a small prototype network.
Regulation of G protein function: implications for heart disease.

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding and -hydrolyzing proteins (G proteins) link members of a family of seven-helix transmembrane receptors (G protein-coupled receptors, GPCR) to intracellular effectors. The coupling mechanism involves the G protein completing a cycle of activation, dissociation into a and βγ subunits, deactivation, and reassociation. At the center of this cycle is the α subunit, in which activation by GPCR, GTPase activity, and regulation of effector are combined. Whereas Gα’s functional domains and residues had already been inferred from mutagenesis studies, the recent solution of the crystal structure has elucidated the structural basis of α subunit function. It is now clear that an irregularity in any GPCR pathway component could cause a physiological defect. This is confirmed by the identification of mutations in GPCR and Gα’s in various human diseases. Although several cardiomyopathies are associated with abnormal GPCR function, mutations are unlikely in these disorders. The last few years, other aspects of G protein function have moved into focus: e.g. posttranslational modifications; effector regulation by βγ subunits; GTPase activating protein (GAP) activity of effectors; G protein expression levels etc. When comparing the regulation of G protein functional activity in cAMP and in inositol phosphate generating pathways, an extrapolation can be made to data on the status of these pathways in some cardiovascular diseases.
Sources and distribution of organic matter in a river-dominated estuary (Winyah Bay, SC, USA)

Abstract The sources and distribution of organic matter (OM) in surface waters and sediments from Winyah Bay (South Carolina, USA) were investigated using a variety of analytical techniques, including elemental, stable isotope and organic biomarker analyses. Several locations along the estuary salinity gradient were sampled during four different periods of contrasting river discharge and tidal range. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations of surface waters ranged from 7 mg l−1 in the lower bay stations closest to the ocean to 20 mg l−1 in the river and upper bay samples. There was a general linear relationship between DOC concentrations and salinity in three of the four sampling periods. In contrast, particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations were significantly lower (0.1–3 mg l−1) and showed no relationship with salinity. The high molecular weight dissolved OM (HMW DOM) isolated from selected water samples collected along the bay displayed atomic carbon:nitrogen ratios ([C/N]a) and stable carbon isotopic compositions of organic carbon (δ13COC) that ranged from 10 to 30 and from −28 to −25‰, respectively. Combined, such compositions indicate that in most HMW DOM samples, the majority of the OM originates from terrigenous sources, with smaller contributions from riverine and estuarine phytoplankton. In contrast, the [C/N]a ratios of particulate OM (POM) samples varied significantly among the collection periods, ranging from low values of ∼5 to high values of >20. Overall, the trends in [C/N]a ratios indicated that algal sources of POM were most important during the early and late summer, whereas terrigenous sources dominated in the winter and early spring. In Winyah Bay bottom sediments, the concentrations of the mineral-associated OM were positively correlated with sediment surface area. The [C/N]a ratios and δ13COC compositions of the bulk sedimentary OM ranged from 5 to 45 and from −28 to −23‰, respectively. These compositions were consistent with predominant contributions of terrigenous sources and lesser (but significant) inputs of freshwater, estuarine and marine phytoplankton. The highest terrigenous contents were found in sediments from the river and upper bay sites, with smaller contributions to the lower parts of the estuary. The yields of lignin-derived CuO oxidation products from Winyah Bay sediments indicated that the terrigenous OM in these samples was composed of variable mixtures of relatively fresh vascular plant detritus and moderately altered soil OM. Based on the lignin phenol compositions, most of this material appeared to be derived from angiosperm and gymnosperm vascular plant sources similar to those found in the upland coastal forests in this region. A few samples displayed lignin compositions that suggested a more significant contribution from marsh C3 grasses. However, there was no evidence of inputs of Spartina alterniflora (a C4 grass) remains from the salt marshes that surround the lower sections of Winyah Bay.
Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of transition-metal fullerene supramolecular systems

Abstract A new ligand has been designed that provides a relatively simple framework to build supramolecular systems containing both fullerene and transition metal moieties. The modular framework of the ligand allows for the easy design of more complex systems. Analysis of absorption and emission spectra suggests significant photoinduced charge transfer between the two moieties. More complex systems and the excited-state photophysics of the presented systems are being studied.
Multi-atlas segmentation with particle-based group-wise image registration

We propose a novel multi-atlas segmentation method that employs a group-wise image registration method for the brain segmentation on rodent magnetic resonance (MR) images. The core element of the proposed segmentation is the use of a particle-guided image registration method that extends the concept of particle correspondence into the volumetric image domain. The registration method performs a group-wise image registration that simultaneously registers a set of images toward the space defined by the average of particles. The particle-guided image registration method is robust with low signal-to-noise ratio images as well as differing sizes and shapes observed in the developing rodent brain. Also, the use of an implicit common reference frame can prevent potential bias induced by the use of a single template in the segmentation process. We show that the use of a particle guided-image registration method can be naturally extended to a novel multi-atlas segmentation method and improves the registration method to explicitly use the provided template labels as an additional constraint. In the experiment, we show that our segmentation algorithm provides more accuracy with multi-atlas label fusion and stability against pair-wise image registration. The comparison with previous group-wise registration method is provided as well.
Calcium currents and arrhythmias: insights from molecular biology

Calcium channels are critical to normal cardiac function. They are involved in the generation and conduction of the action potential and in contraction. Three surface membrane channels have been identified. The L-type Ca channel is most abundant and is responsible for Ca entry into the cell that triggers contraction. T-type Ca channels are most prevalent in the conduction system and are probably involved in automaticity. A newly described TTX-sensitive calcium current may be important in "boosting" or enhancing conduction and contraction. The main intracellular Ca channel resides in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and is responsible for the release of the Ca that activates contraction. Oscillatory behavior of this channel influences the sarcolemmal membrane, causing delayed aftercontractions and arrhythmias such as those seen in digoxin toxicity. The on-going molecular characterization of these channels will enhance our knowledge of their normal function and dysfunction in disease states, leading to the development of new therapeutic agents to treat arrhythmias and contractile dysfunction.
Personal values and business decisions: An exploratory investigation

Interest in subjective values and decision responses are investigated empirically, including statistically testing the predictive relationships between subjective values, other independent variables such as level and area of executive responsibility, and decision responses.
Phase II trial of liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

Fourteen patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were treated on a phase II trial with liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin (Lipodox, LED). None of the fourteen evaluable patients achieved a complete or partial response. Myelosuppression was the most common toxicity and no cardiac toxicity was evident. Seventynine percent (11 of 14) of patients experienced grade III or IV neutropenia. In summary, LED did not show antitumor activity in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.
New model for fermion masses in supersymmetric grand unified theories.

We present a simple model for fermion mass matrices and quark mixing in the context of supersymmetric grand unified theories and show its agreement with experiment. Our model realizes the GUT mass relations ${m}_{d}=3{m}_{e}$, ${m}_{s}=\frac{{m}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}}{3}$, ${m}_{b}={m}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ in a new way and is easily consistent with values of ${m}_{t}$ suggested by MSSM fits to CERN LEP data.
Multiple facets of TPP1 in telomere maintenance

Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes that cap the ends of all linear chromosomes and function to prevent aberrant repair and end-to-end chromosome fusions. In somatic cells, telomere shortening is a natural part of the aging process as it occurs with each round of cell division. In germ and stem cells, however, the enzyme telomerase synthesizes telomere DNA to counter-balance telomere shortening and help maintain cellular proliferation. Of the primary telomere end-binding proteins, TPP1 has recently emerged as a primary contributor in protecting telomere DNA and in recruiting telomerase to the telomere ends. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the role of TPP1 in telomere maintenance.
Guaranteed Safe Motion of Multiple Lagrangian Systems with Limited Actuation

In this paper we present decentralized, reactive, cooperative collision avoidance strategies for a group of nonlinear Lagrangian vehicles with limited actuation and bounded sensing range. The avoidance control strategies, which are continuous, build on the concept of avoidance functions and are synthesized with a time-varying set-point control law that drives the agents towards their desired final configurations (possibly time-varying) while avoiding deadlocks and unwanted local minima. We show, by using results from packing optimization and Lyapunov-based analysis, that the overall control strategies are bounded, comply with the agents's dynamic constraints (i.e., limited actuation and acceleration), and guarantee collision-free trajectories for all agents. Moreover, we provide a bound on the number of agents that can interact with a single vehicle at any given time and illustrate their performance via a numerical example with a group of twelve vehicles.
The pathogenesis of malaria: a new perspective.

With 3.3 billion people at risk of infection, malaria remains one of the world’s most significant health problems. Increasing resistance of the main causative parasite to currently available drugs has created an urgent need to elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease in order to develop new treatments. A possible clue to such an understanding is that the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum selectively absorbs vitamin A from the host and appears to use it for its metabolism; serum vitamin A levels are also reduced in children with malaria. Although vitamin A is essential in low concentration for numerous biological functions, higher concentrations are cytotoxic and pro-oxidant, and potentially toxic quantities of the vitamin are stored in the liver. During their life cycle in the host the parasites remain in the liver for several days before invading the red blood cells (RBCs). The hypothesis proposed is that the parasites emerge from the liver packed with vitamin A and use retinoic acid (RA), the main biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, as a cell membrane destabilizer to invade the RBCs throughout the body. The characteristic hemolysis and anemia of malaria and other symptoms of the disease may thus be manifestations of an endogenous form of vitamin A intoxication associated with high concentrations of RA but low concentrations of retinol (ROL). Retinoic acid released from the parasites may also affect the fetus and cause preterm birth and fetal growth restriction (FGR) as a function of the membranolytic and growth inhibitory effects of these compounds, respectively. Subject to testing, the hypothesis suggests that parasite vitamin A metabolism could become a new target for the treatment and prevention of malaria.
MINIMUM-GAGE, MAXIMUM-STIFFNESS GRAPHITE/THERMOPLASTIC SPACECRAFT STRUCTURES

Advanced thermoplastic matrix composite materials have been studied for use in aircraft applications since about 1980. This Strategic Defense Initiative Organization/Air Force project was initiated in 1987 to study the suitability of this class of materials for use in spacecraft applications. This paper will report on the following work in progress: development of ultrahigh-modulus, pitch-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites; development of thin-ply graphite/thermoplastic materials for gage-limited spacecraft applications; and producibility demonstrations for generic spacecraft structures including open frames and T and L members, circular and square-tube truss configurations, and stiffened-skin modules.
The metabolic syndrome: A tug-of-war with no winner

The metabolic syndrome may be viewed as a state of insulin-counterregulatory overdrive: counterregulatory hormones and fatty acids chronically duel with insulin, causing a cascade of biochemical interactions resulting in insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Even before beta cells fail and type 2 diabetes ensues, the deadly quartet is quietly rehearsing.
Islamism in Politics: Integration and Persecution in Egypt

This paper tries to portray the why in which Islamism reacted to political constellation in the Egyptian context from the time of Anwar Sadat to of Hosni Mubarak. It shows that the Egyptian government from time to time often adopts a harsh policy toward any forms of extremism in the name of Islam. However, persecution led to nothing but the increase of radical Islamism. This occurred because the Islamist movement failed to integrate their ideas in the real political domain. Failure in integration to both political and social life fueled further exclusivism.
erb-B: growth factor receptor turned oncogene

Abstract The erb -B oncogene has been shown to be a deleted version of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene. These mutations are thought to cause a constitutive activation of the receptor which is then able to induce uncontrolled growth of specific cell types. Mutational analysis of the erb -B gene indicates that specific domains of the erb-B protein interact with specific cellular target proteins to cause transformation.
Oxidized quercetin inhibits α-synuclein fibrillization

Abstract Background α-Synucein is a small (14 kDa), abundant, intrinsically disordered presynaptic protein, whose aggregation is believed to be a critical step in Parkinson's disease (PD). Oxidative stress is reported to be a risk factor for dopamine cell degeneration in PD. Flavonoids are suggested to be important antioxidant against oxidative stress. Flavonoids were reported to inhibit fibrillization and disaggregate the preformed fibrils of α-synucein, but the molecular mechanism was still not clear. Methods Quercetin, a well-recognized flavonoid antioxidant, was tested for its inhibition of α-synucein aggregation by thioflavin T assay, light scattering measurement, size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography, atomic force microscopy, etc. Results The pre-incubated quercetin exhibited a noticeably stronger inhibition behavior to the fibril formation than that of the freshly prepared. The inhibition is significant in the presence of ortho- and para-benzenediol isomers and inconsiderable in the presence of meta-isomer. The oxidized quercetin species (i.e., chalcantrione, benzyfuranone, quercetinchinone, and other derivatives) cause stronger inhibition than quercetin does because of the elevated polarity and hydrophilicity. Presence of quercetin disaggregates α-synucein fibrils, rather than oligomers and amorphous aggregations. Conclusions Instead of the antioxidant activity, the 1:1 covalent binding of quercetin with α-synucein, and the increased hydophilicity of the covalently modified α-synucein oligomers or monomers, account for the inhibition of α-synucein fibrillation. General significance Clarification of the molecular mechanism of the inhibition and disaggregation may help to screen safer and more effective flavonoid therapeutic in combating PD.
Fractures of the sesamoid bones of the thumb

Sesamoid fractures of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb may be classified into two types: (1) with palmar plate intact, and (2) with palmar plate ruptured. In type 1, the patient maintains a normal flexion posture of the metacarpophalangeal joint as well as the ability to flex the metacarpophalangeal joint and interphalangeal joint. In type 2, the metacarpophalangeal joint assumes a hyperextension posture and the patient is unable to flex the metacarpophalangeal joint. Three cases are described to illustrate the two types of the injury. An open fracture of a thumb sesamoid associated with laceration of the palmar plate in a child was treated by reapproximating the palmar plate and the fracture fragments with sutures. Two additional closed fractures of the thumb sesamoid were treated by splinting the metacarpophalangeal joint in comfortable flexion for 2 to 3 weeks. Normal hand function was restored in all the three patients.
A model of hippocampal circuitry mediating goal-driven navigation in a familiar environment

Abstract Considerable data demonstrates a role for the hippocampus in spatial navigation. Here, we present a detailed model of how the components of hippocampal circuitry might guide movement toward flexible goal locations in a familiar environment. The model contains the following features: (1) route planning is based on the spread of activation; (2) the spread of activation is gated by environmental constraints; (3) multiple goals are visited sequentially; (4) spatial representation is goal-independent; (5) place cells predict the future position by about one θ-cycle; and (6) the model selects the shorter path among alternatives. This model can be further extended to address complex navigational functions.
Parallel spatiotemporal autocorrelation and visualization system for large-scale remotely sensed images

Current studies on large-scale remotely sensed images are of great national importance for monitoring and evaluating global climate and ecological changes. In particular, real time distributed high-performance visualization and computation have become indispensable research components in facilitating the extraction of remotely sensed image textures to enable mining spatiotemporal patterns and dynamics of landscapes from massive geo-digital information collected from satellites. Remotely sensed images are usually highly correlated with rich landscape features. By exploiting the structures of these images and extracting their textures, fundamental insights of the landscape can be derived. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary collaboration on the remotely sensed image analysis demands multifarious expertise in a wide spectrum of fields including geography, computer science, and engineering. This paper develops a Distributed Computing System for Remotely Sensed Images framework (DCSRI) to support distributed and high performance computing for geospatial images. A new algorithm supporting parallel computing with dynamic workload balance for large images, namely Variogram-based Image Texture Extractor (VITE) for extracting image texture from massive and dynamic digital remotely sensed images is presented. The VITE algorithm is used to represent and transform the original data into image textures. The DCSRI framework has the capacity to perform high performance computing on Linux clusters or supercomputers to address the intensive computing challenges arising from large and multiple images. Advanced web technology is also exploited to enable interactive user experience with prompt visual feedback as well as good interoperability. Users can also dynamically steer the visualization and computation process by adjusting the computing parameters on-the-fly. This system leads to a great reduction of image data and provides useful information for knowledge discovery and digital image classification in a user friendly and computing efficient way.
Analysis of data from group-randomized trials with repeat observations on the same groups

This study used Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the performance of alternative models for the analysis of group-randomized trials having more than two time intervals for data collection. The major distinction among the models tested was the sampling variance of the intervention effect. In the mixed-model ANOVA, the sampling variance of the intervention effect is based on the variance among group x time-interval means. In the random coefficients model, the sampling variance of the intervention effect is based on the variance among the group-specific slopes. These models are equivalent when the design includes only two time intervals, but not when there are more than two time intervals. The results indicate that the mixed-model ANOVA yields unbiased estimates of sampling variation and nominal type I error rates when the group-specific time trends are homogenous. However, when the group-specific time trends are heterogeneous, the mixed-model ANOVA yields downwardly biased estimates of sampling variance and inflated type I error rates. In contrast, the random coefficients model yields unbiased estimates of sampling variance and the nominal type I error rate regardless of the pattern among the groups. We discuss implications for the analysis of group-randomized trials with more than two time intervals.
Doctoral Education in the Biomedical Sciences: Back to the Future?.

The contraction of employment opportunities for scientists and engineers has initiated debate about the nature and aims of graduate education. The course of study leading to the PhD degree is seen as being too long, too focused on a small, circumscribed scientific area, and too akin to technical training rather than education. There is a clamor for reform, though much disagreement about what the reform should be. The author places this debate in a historical context, revealing that the arguments and recommendations articulated today were first voiced in the late nineteenth century, when graduate education began in the United States, and have continued to be restated throughout this century. There is no quick fix of the problem. Two long-term remedies have received considerable advocacy, but both are flawed. The first is to reduce the production of PhDs to address the perceived oversupply, but even if such a reduction were possible, the ability of graduate education to predict future employment opportunities is imprecise. The second is to broaden the traditional PhD program to increase the employability of graduates in wider spheres of activity, including some that do not require scientific research, such as business, journalism, law, and secondary school teaching. The author asserts that the broad nonscientific educational background that some would like to see included in the graduate curriculum is principally the responsibility of the student and should be acquired mainly during the undergraduate years. In the long term, the paucity of employment opportunities for recent PhDs and postdoctoral research fellows can realistically be addressed only by increasing the rigor of graduate education, which should not be expected to serve as a job-training program. The PhD is an academic, not a professional, degree and can be no more than an entree to further study or to a number of possible career paths. The responsibility of the graduate school is to ensure that its graduates have a well-rounded scientific education, have each pursued a challenging problem in depth, and possess the intellect, resourcefulness, and drive to succeed in any endeavor that requires keen problem-solving abilities.
Peripheral insertion of double-lumen central venous catheter using the Seldinger technique in newborns.

To report the experience of peripheral insertion of double-lumen central catheters (PIDLCC) in preterm and term newborn infants and to analyze the technical characteristics of the procedure and any observed complications. Retrospective review of 61 newborns that had a PIDLCC between 2003 and 2006. The study comprised clinical data analysis, anthropometrics, indications, duration, complications and reasons for withdrawal of the catheters. Weight of the patients was 2 kg in 75%. Catheters tip placement was as aimed, mostly superior cava vein (SCV), in 65.5%, and subclavian vein in remaining 34.5% and average duration of catheterization was 13.5±9.6 and 8.9±5.8 days, respectively. Blood sampling through both lumens was possible especially when the tip was at SCV. Reasons for catheter withdrawal were end of indication (45.9%), phlebitis/edema (21.3%), suspected infection (3.2%), accidental withdrawal (3.2%) and rupture of proximal end (3.2%). In three (4.9%) patients, withdrawal was due to serious complications (two cases of pleural leakage of infusion fluid and one breakage of the metallic guide). About 16.3% of the patients died with the catheter still in situ. Infection findings were positive tip culture (14.7%) and catheter-related sepsis (3.2%). Insertion of PIDLCC is possible in neonates. The incidence of complications, mostly mechanical, requires careful evaluation of indications, and strict adherence to the procedure of insertion and manipulation.
Measurement of anomalous ion thermal transport due to the ion-temperature-gradient driven instability

The anomalous ion thermal transport due to the ion-temperature-gradient driven instability (ITG mode) has been studied in the Columbia Linear Machine. We find that in the presence of the ITG mode, the radial temperature profile relaxes along the direction of a steady state plasma flow parallel to the magnetic field lines. The corresponding local ion thermal conductivity ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$(r), determined from the experimental data, is highly anomalous and shows a strong correlation with the radial profile of the ITG mode.
ASSOCIATIONS OF SOLUBLE FIBER, WHOLE FRUITS/VEGETABLES, AND JUICE WITH PLASMA BETA-CAROTENE CONCENTRATIONS IN A FREE-LIVING POPULATION OF BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

Objective: Soluble fiber and the physical state of fruits/vegetables affect plasma s-carotene concentrations; however, most of this research was conducted in laboratory-based settings. These analyses investigated the relationship between soluble fiber and juiced versus whole fruits/vegetables to plasma s-carotene concentrations in a free-living population. Method: This cross-sectional analysis used 12-month follow-up data from the Women's Healthy Eating & Living Study (1995–2006), a study to improve diet in breast cancer survivors in the Western United States. The dietary nutrients considered in this analysis included intake of soluble fiber (g), s-carotene from fruit/vegetable juice (mg), and s-carotene from whole fruits/vegetables (mg). A linear regression model was used to assess the relationship of the variables to plasma s-carotene concentrations. Results: Out of 3,088 women enrolled in the Women's Healthy Eating & Living Study, 2,397 women had complete data (mean age = 54). The final model accounted...
Implementation of the Wideband Autoparametric Vibration Absorber on a Flexible Structure

The dynamics of a resonantly excited thin cantilever with an active controller are investigated experimentally. The controller mimics a passive wideband absorber discussed in [1]. PZT patches are bonded to both sides of the beam to actuate it, while an electromagnetic shaker drives the beam near resonance. An active controller consisting of an array of uncoupled controllers is developed, such that the governing equations for the controller are quadratically coupled to the resonating system. The control signal, in terms of the motion of the controllers, is quadratically nonlinear. The controller is implemented using a modelling software and a controller hardware board. Two sets of experiments are performed: one with a constant excitation frequency and the other with a linearly varying excitation frequency at a slow rate (non-stationary excitation). The experimental results verify the analysis presented for the passive wideband autoparametric vibration absorber. They also demonstrate the effectiveness of the absorber in reducing the response amplitude of structures, and its robustness to frequency mistuning.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Anti-neoplastic effects of interleukin-4.

Abstract Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a cytokine, with potential anti-neoplastic effects. This study examined the effects of IL-4 on host anti-tumor responses in a murine model. C57/B16 mice ( n = 40) were randomized to receive Lewis lung carcinoma (10 6 cells: right flank; sc) or saline, and sacrificied 10 days postinoculation for assessment of peritoneal macrophage (PMO) anti-tumor mechanisms [superoxide anion generation (O 2 − ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and TNF-independent (P815) cytotoxicity], splenocyte mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) (Balb/c stimulator), and cytotoxic lymphocyte generation (CTL against P815). Cells were cultured ± IL-4 (100 U/ml). In a second study, 20 mice received Lewis lung implants (sc) and were randomized on Day 21 to receive daily IL-4 (1000 U/mouse; ip) or saline. Tumor volumes and median survival were assessed. Tumor necrosis factor-independent cytotoxicity (O 2 − , MLR and CTL) was impaired in the tumor-bearing (TB) study group. Interleukin-4 administered to cultured cells from TB mice enhanced O 2 − , as well as MLR and CTL ( P In vivo administration of IL-4 significantly decreased tumor growth ( P P
Stability of ITO Thin Film on Flexible Substrate Under Thermal Aging and Thermal Cycling Conditions

Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) is a transparent conductive thin film that is widely used as a top conducive layer in photovoltaic solar cells. However, ITO is sensitive to environmental conditions and the electrical conductivity degrades as a consequence of harsh environmental conditions. Furthermore, the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the ITO film and the substrate creates stress/strain on the film when the package is subjected to fluctuating temperatures. This could create micro-cracks and consequently damage the film. Therefore, this study was designed to study the effect of the thermal cycling and thermal aging on the ITO thin films to simulate the effect of continuous high temperatures and fluctuating temperatures that may be applied on the thin films during the usage. In this study, two sets of experiments were conducted on a 60Ω/□square sputter-deposited ITO on 127 μm heat stabilized Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) substrate. The first set of experiments contained four samples which were thermally aged at 100°C for 30 days and the other set of experiments contained another four samples which were thermally cycled for 900 cycles. The thermal profile consisted of a high temperature of 100°C, a low temperature of 0°C, dwell time of 10 minutes, and ramp rate of 10°C/min , as depicted in Fig. 1. The initial results showed that the ITO thin film is not stable in the thermal aging experiment and the electrical resistivity gradually increased for all samples until the end of the 30 days. The degradation happened during the thermal cycling as well. However, SEM images show that the morphology of the ITO surface is stable under both conditions. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy analysis showed stability in the ITO thin film in terms of composition. XRD spectra confirmed the improved crystallinity for the thermally aged films, which corresponded to the increased transmission in the visible region.
Stepwise normal theory multiple test procedures controlling the false discovery rate

Abstract The false discovery rate (FDR), or the expected proportion of falsely rejected null hypotheses to rejected null hypotheses, has recently been proposed as an error rate that multiple testing procedures should in certain circumstances control. So far, only a step-up procedure for independent test statistics has been created explicitly to control the FDR ( Benjamini and Hochberg, 1995 ). In this paper, step-down and step-up procedures are described which asymptotically (as N→∞) control the FDR when the test statistics are the t statistics from consistent multivariate normal estimators of the tested parameters. Determination of the necessary critical constants for the normal theory procedures is achieved using numerical integration when the correlations are equal, or through simulation using the multivariate t distribution when the correlations are arbitrary. The critical constants of the normal theory procedures are compared to those of the Benjamini and Hochberg procedure under the normal assumption, and a large potential power increase is found. Simulation strongly supports the use of critical constants, obtained by an asymptotic argument, in small samples for as many as 30 tests. Adjusted FDR values can be found to quantify the evidence against a given hypothesis.
Genetic structure of a Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) population inhabiting a fragmented agricultural ecosystem

Fragmentation has drastically altered the quality of habitats throughout numerous ecosystems, often leading to dramatic changes in the composition of wildlife communities. The ecology and associated movement behavior of a species may also be modified as a result of forest fragmentation, resulting in changes in genetic composition of the affected species. In this research, we evaluated the genetic structure of the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana Kerr, 1792) at the land- scape and local scales in a fragmented, agricultural ecosystem in northern Indiana using 13 microsatellite loci. We examined 290 samples from opossums inhabiting 28 discrete habitat patches, and evaluated partitioning of genetic variation of opos- sums among and within habitat patches. We observed low but significant levels of genetic structure (FST = 0.005) overall, and pairwise comparisons of FST values among habitat patches also were relatively low. Relatedness within patches was highly variable (-0.077 ≤ rxy ≤ 0.060), with a few patches exhibiting significantly higher levels of relatedness than random expectations, and we detected no evidence of sex-biased natal dispersal. These results contrast with previous field studies that documented male-biased dispersal in the Virginia opossum, indicating dispersal in this species is plastic and dependent upon local environmental conditions.
Emergency department use among HIV-infected released jail detainees.

Release from short-term jail detention is highly destabilizing, associated with relapse to substance use, recidivism, and disrupted health care continuity. Little is known about emergency department (ED) use, potentially a surrogate for medical, psychiatric, or social instability, by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) leaving jails. All ED visits were reviewed from medical records for a cohort of 109 PLHWA in the year following release from county jail in Connecticut, between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010. Primary outcomes were frequency and timing of ED visits, modeled using multivariate negative binomial regression and Cox proportional hazards regression, respectively. Demographic, substance use, and psychiatric disorder severity factors were evaluated as potential covariates. Overall, 71 (65.1 %) of the 109 participants made 300 unique ED visits (2.75 visits/person-year) in the year following jail-release. Frequency of ED use was positively associated with female sex (incidence rate ratios, IRR 2.40 [1.36–4.35]), homelessness (IRR 2.22 [1.15–4.41]), and recent substance use (IRR 2.47 [1.33–4.64]), and inversely associated with lifetime drug severity (IRR 0.01 [0–0.10]), and being retained in HIV primary care (IRR 0.80 [0.65–0.99]). Those in late or sustained HIV care used the ED sooner than those not retained in HIV primary care (median for late retention 16.3 days, median for sustained retention 24.9 days, median for no retention not reached at 12 months, p value 0.004). Using multivariate modeling, those who used the ED earliest upon release were more likely to be homeless (HR 1.98 [1.02–3.84]), to be retained in HIV care (HR 1.30 [1.04–1.61]), and to have recently used drugs (HR 2.51 [1.30–4.87]), yet had a low lifetime drug severity (HR 0.01 [0.00–0.14]). Among PLWHA released from jail, frequency of ED use is high, often soon after release, and is associated with social and drug-related destabilizing factors. Future interventions for this specific population should focus on addressing these resource gaps, ensuring housing, and establishing immediate linkage to HIV primary care after release from jail.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDICATOR ORGANISMS AND SPECIFIC PATHOGENS IN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS

Quality audit data collected as part of a mass feeding quality assurance program were analyzed to determine the relationships between the indicator tests (total aerobic plate count, coliform count and Escherichiu colz) and the common food-borne pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella). 132 raw foods and 593 readyto-eat foods were evaluated. The indicators were grouped into ranges and compared to the pathogens and to each other in terms of detectability. There were correlations between the pathogens and the indicator ranges and between the indicators and the indicator ranges. The value of the indicators in the e’valuation of food safety was tested by setting standards and determining the numbers of correct and incorrect decisions which would be made relative to the pathogens detected in the foods. None of the indicators was suitable as a screening agent for food safety.