cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perceived safety and efficacy of neuromuscular blockers for acute respiratory distress syndrome among medical intensive care unit practitioners: A multicenter survey.

Abstract Purpose Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are frequently used in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The purpose of this survey is to describe providers' knowledge and perceived efficacy and safety of NMBAs in patients with ARDS. Materials and methods We performed a prospective, multicenter survey of medical intensive care unit intensivists, fellows, nurse practitioners (NPs), physician's assistants (PAs), and pharmacists at 5 tertiary care centers between July 2012 and May 2013. Results A total of 335 surveys were sent to providers, with a 47% response rate. Ninety-eight percent of providers correctly identified that NMBAs lack anxiolytic and analgesic properties. The effect of end-organ damage on NMBA clearance was less commonly identified by NPs/PAs for both hepatic ( P =.0077) and renal ( P =.0272) dysfunction compared with physicians. More NP/PAs identified the association of consciousness with the use of NMBAs than physicians ( P =.047). Forty-two percent of prescribers reported always or frequently using continuous-infusion NMBAs in patients with severe ARDS, with 89% initiating NMBAs because of ventilator dyssynchrony. Prescribers perceived continuous NMBAs to be more effective than inhaled prostaglandins (74% vs 56%) in severe ARDS but less safe (45% vs 84%). Train of 4 was identified by 54% of prescribers as their primary method for titration. Conclusion Providers are knowledgeable about NMBAs, but educational opportunities exist. Perceptions about the efficacy and safety of NMBAs varied among prescribers, and inconsistencies existed in the prioritization of management strategies for ARDS.
Painting the fence: Social norms as economic incentives to non-automotive travel behavior

Abstract Research exploring the behavioral economic dimensions that drive travel has shown that social and psychological forces often play a role equal to price and economic levers. Yet, more work is needed to evaluate how financial verses social market norms influence economic decisions with regard to transportation. For this study, roughly 500 participants were offered differing incentives in four identical trials. These randomly assigned incentives included various monetary amounts, a free gift, or a social nudge tapping into altruistic values (in this case, benefits to the environment). After tests for homogeneity, the results showed the social nudge had a high degree of effectiveness, when compared to both the financial incentives and gifts. Furthermore, the results indicated that mixing financial and social norms caused both to be less effective. These findings suggest that fiscal incentive programs used to influence travel decisions may be lacking. In fact, this research suggests a new focus on behavioral economics in travel programs, and more emphasis on social norms and values as tools to facilitate changes in travel behaviors and nudge individuals to more healthy and climate-sensitive forms of travel.
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for quantitative interface state characterization of planar and nanostructured semiconductor-dielectric interfaces

The performance of nanostructured semiconductors is frequently limited by interface defects that trap electronic carriers. In particular, high aspect ratio geometries dramatically increase the difficulty of using typical solid-state electrical measurements (multifrequency capacitance- and conductance-voltage testing) to quantify interface trap densities (D it). We report on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to characterize the energy distribution of interface traps at metal oxide/semiconductor interfaces. This method takes advantage of liquid electrolytes, which provide conformal electrical contacts. Planar Al2O3/p-Si and Al2O3/p-Si0.55Ge0.45 interfaces are used to benchmark the EIS data against results obtained from standard electrical testing methods. We find that the solid state and EIS data agree very well, leading to the extraction of consistent D it energy distributions. Measurements carried out on pyramid-nanostructured p-Si obtained by KOH etching followed by deposition of a 10 nm ALD-Al2O3 demonstrate the application of EIS to trap characterization of a nanostructured dielectric/semiconductor interface. These results show the promise of this methodology to measure interface state densities for a broad range of semiconductor nanostructures such as nanowires, nanofins, and porous structures.
“I’ve Struggled, I’ve Battled”: Invisibility Microaggressions Experienced by Women of Color at a Predominantly White Institution

This study used critical ethnography to document microaggressions experienced by women Staff and Faculty of Color at a predominantly White institution of higher education. This article focuses on invisibility, a specific type of microaggression, which emerged as a prominent finding. Participant narratives explicated three manifestations of environmental microaggressions (campus, disciplinary/professional, and community invisibility) and two forms of interpersonal microaggressions (professional and leadership invisibility). Recommendations for higher education professionals are provided.
Police officers’ perceptions of organizational justice and their trust in the public

AbstractResearch in organizational psychology has consistently demonstrated that employee perceptions of organizational justice have significant effects on employee attitudes, perceptions, and beha...
Sliding-Layer Laminates: A Robotic Material Enabling Robust and Adaptable Undulatory Locomotion

Continuum robots that move through undulatory actuation must be composed of body materials that can enable flexible movement yet also provide resistive forces to the surrounding fluid, granular, or solid environments. This need for “f1exible-yet-stiff” materials is notably important in robot designs that use passive propulsive elements such as tails and wings. Here we explore a laminate design paradigm for “f1exible-yet-stiff” robotic materials through sliding layer laminates (SLLs). We present design principles motivated by theory and experiment and illustrate a taxonomy of SLL enabled morphable materials capable of up to 7 fold change in stiffness. Lastly, we demonstrate the applicability of SLLs to undulatory continuum robots: a swimming robot with a passive tail. We target two desired robot locomotor behaviors: fast open water swimming, and steady swimming through narrow channels emulating underwater caverns and pipes. We demonstrate how tuning the stiffness of the robot tail maximizes thrust generation in these two locomotion modes. Soft tails are optimal in confined swimming because they generate short amplitude high wavenumber oscillations, while stiff tails in confined environments either collide with the walls or do not generate sufficient thrust. However, stiff tails are far better in unconfined environments which enable large stroke amplitudes requiring high stiffness. Through this demonstration we show that stiff or soft tail designs alone are incapable of effective locomotion in complex underwater environments challenge.
Negotiating the Space between Avant–Garde and “Hip Enough”: Businesses and Commercial Gentrification in Wicker Park:

Gentrification literature focuses mostly on growth machines pursuing profits or residents pursuing taste preferences, to the exclusion of cultural intermediaries that connect these processes, parti...
Impediments to communication and relationships between infertility care providers and patients.

Infertility patients generally see provider-patient communication and relationships as important, but as often insufficient, raising critical questions regarding why these gaps persist, and how they might best be addressed. Semi-structured interviews of approximately one hour each were conducted with 37 ART providers and patients (17 physicians, 10 other health providers, and 10 patients) and were thematically analyzed. Patients see clinicians’ interactions as ranging widely from good to bad, related to several specific barriers and factors. Patients and providers may differ in their physical and emotional experiences, expectations concerning treatment outcomes and uncertainties, and time frames and finances, generating dynamic processes and tensions. Characteristics of particular providers, clinics and patients can also vary. Infertility patients tend to find only one outcome acceptable – a “take home baby” – rather than partial success, as is the case with many other diseases. Yet most IVF cycles fail. Many patients must pay considerable out-of-pocket expenses for infertility treatment, exacerbating disappointments and frustrations. Providers often work in competitive, entrepreneurial markets, and “hype” their potential success. After treatment failures, providers may feel guilty and withdraw from patients. Yet these behaviors can antagonize patients more than physicians realize, aggravating patient stresses. Several providers described how they understood patients’ needs and perceptions more fully only after becoming infertility patients themselves. Interactions with not only physicians, but other providers (e.g., nurses and staff) can play key roles. Patients may be willing to understand these impediments, but providers often communicate these obstacles and reasons poorly or not at all, furthering tensions. These data, the first to examine several critical aspects of challenges that infertility providers and patients face in communication and relationships, suggest that several key dynamic processes and factors may be involved, and need to be addressed. While prior research has shown that infertility patients value, but often feel disappointed in relationships with clinicians, the present data highlight several specific impediments, and thus have critical implications for future practice, research, guidelines and education.
A Meaningful Entrance: Photo Therapy as a Psychotherapeutic Intervention

Photo therapy is a technique that mental health clinicians can use to motivate therapeutic discussions with clients. The explicit focus is on the photograph rather than on the client; this provides a feeling of emotional safety. Images stimulate clients to project their own interpretations. A picture, used as a therapeutic process tool, provides a meaningful entrance into an undefended side door of the mind to allow for emotional healing.
The bioconversion of beta-carotene into retinoids.

Vitamin A (or retinol) is an essential nutrient for all mammals since it cannot be synthesized in the body. The most important physiologically active derivative of vitamin A is retinoic acid, since this molecule fulfills the vitamin A requirements for growth and maintenance of normal epithelial function (Goodman and Blaner, 1984). However, retinoic acid cannot fulfill all vitamin A requirements, for the visual and the reproductive systems require retinal or retinol, respectively. Retinoic acid is a well-known inducer of cell differentiation, particularly in certain carcinoma cell lines, and this property has been used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (Warrell et al., 1993; Chen et al., 1991). Two families of nuclear retinoic acids receptors (RARs and RXRs) have been cloned that are active in receptor-mediated regulation of gene transcription (for reviews see Chambon, 1996, and Chapters 2 and 3 of this volume). It is now well established that cellular actions of vitamin A are mediated by the binding of retinoic acid to specific nuclear receptor proteins (for reviews see Pfahl and Chytil, 1996, and Chapter 1 of this volume).
A Quantitative Nanoscale Coulter Counter

We have fabricated a microchip Coulter counter on a quartz substrate, and have used it to detect individual colloidal particles with a sensitivity proportional to each particle s size. We demonstrate the ability of this device to distinguish colloids whose diameters differ by less than 10%. Furthermore, the device is sensitive to individual molecules of γ,-phage DNA, which is a first step towards the application of this technique to the size-based differentiation of single biological macromolecules.
Computational Models of Multi-National Organizations

An algorithm for designing multi-national organizations that takes into account cultural dimensions is presented and an example from the command and control field is used to illustrate the approach.
Renal Cell Carcinoma in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Patients with end-stage renal disease are at increased risk for the development of renal cell carcinoma in their native kidneys and as a consequence of immunosuppressive therapy following renal transplantation. This chapter discusses acquired renal cystic disease and its association with renal cell carcinoma, the unique situation of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease and renal transplantation, and the increased incidence of malignancies with immunosuppression and a novel class of immunosuppressants with antineoplastic properties.
Differential Lung Ventilation

In the vast majority of patients with bilateral lung disease, the application of PEEP to both of the lungs increases the functional residual capacity of both lungs, thereby reversing atelectasis and increasing the ventilation-perfusion ratio of both lungs (Figure 1). Similarly, in the vast majority of patients with unilateral lung disease, the application of PEEP to both of the lungs increases the functional residual capacity of the diseased lung toward normal while not excessively increasing the functional residual capacity of the normal lung (Figure 2). However, in some patients with unilateral lung disease, PEEP to both of the lungs may fail to expand the diseased lung and excessively distend the normal lung. The distension of the normal lung may selectively increase pulmonary vascular resistance in the nondiseased lung and shunt blood flew to the diseased lung, thereby increasing the right-to-left shunt and causing a paradoxic decrease in the arterial oxygen tension (Figure 3). (1,2) Similarly, in some patients with bilateral lung disease, in which the disease is in the basilar regions (with normal apical regions), PEEP to both lungs may fail to expand the bases and may excessively distend apical regions (Figure 4). The excessive distension of apical regions may selectively increase pulmonary vascular resistance in the apical regions and shunt blood flow to the atelectatic and low ventilation–perfusion ratio basilar regions, thereby increasing the right-to-left shunt and causing a paradoxic decrease in the arterial oxygen tension.
Quantitative Investigation of Engineering Graduate Student Conceptions and Processes of Academic Writing

Though many writing researchers link the role of writing with disciplinary socialization, there is little research outside of anecdotal evidence on how engineering graduate students in particular conceptualize and relate to the writing process. These affective components of writing are as necessary as the cognitive activities in terms of developing successful graduate engineering writers. To meet this gap, the present study shows survey data from N=210 graduate engineering students at research intensive universities across the United States. The survey comprised three validated writing scales investigating students’ conceptions of writing, processes of writing, writing self-efficacy in a single survey deployment. Descriptive statistics show the common processes and conceptions with writing, but Pearson correlations calculated across scales reveal statistically significant relationships among the scale factors, for example that many graduate engineering writers often struggle with a “trifecta” of low writing self-efficacy, perfectionism, and procrastination. This study extends prior mixed methods and smaller scale quantitative work that has been done in the past with engineering graduate students, and also points to the importance of addressing the layered nature of student issues with writing. Findings are situated in terms of practical recommendations for technical writing researchers and faculty as they help graduate students navigate academic engineering writing.
Creating Misspecified Models in Moment Structure Analysis

To understand how SEM methods perform in practice where models always have misfit, simulation studies often involve incorrect models. To create a wrong model, traditionally one specifies a perfect model first and then removes some paths. This approach becomes difficult or even impossible to implement in moment structure analysis and fails to control the amounts of misfit separately and precisely for the mean and covariance parts. Most importantly, this approach assumes a perfect model exists and wrong models can eventually be made perfect, whereas in practice models are all implausible if taken literally and at best provide approximations of the real world. To improve the traditional approach, we propose a more realistic and flexible way to create model misfit for multiple group moment structure analysis. Given (a) the model $$\varvec{{{\upmu }}} (\cdot ) $$ and $$\varvec{{\Sigma }} (\cdot ) $$, (b) population model parameters $$\varvec{{{\uptheta }}} _0$$, and (c) $$F_1$$ and $$F_2$$ specified by the researcher, our method creates $$\varvec{{{\upmu }}} ^*$$ and $$\varvec{{\Sigma }} ^*$$ to simultaneously satisfy (a) $$\varvec{{{\uptheta }}} _0 = \arg \min F[\varvec{{{\upmu }}} ^*, \varvec{{\Sigma }} ^*; \varvec{{{\upmu }}} (\cdot ), \varvec{{\Sigma }} (\cdot )]$$, (b) the mean structure’s misfit equals $$F_1$$, and (c) the covariance structure’s misfit equals $$F_2$$.
Social Support and Family Assets

Research on lone-mother families has commonly focussed on psychosocial risk factors and deficits rather than family assets (strengths and resiliency characteristics). The negative impacts of poverty and social isolation have been well documented. Home visitation programs provide formal support to overburdened families, yet little research has focussed on the meaning of support (e.g., formal and informal) from the perspective of families. This qualitative exploratory descriptive study was completed in southwestern Alberta, with a purposeful sample of 13 families (mean annual income of $15,423 and 2.1 children) using mixed measurement (clinical tools and 2 semi-structured interviews). Similarities and differences in support and three lone-mother family structures were identified. A few lone-mother families described transformative experiences related to affirmative support from the home visitor. Not all families reported having ‘enough support’ to meet their needs. Sources of change in family assets included: a) support from the home visitor, b) ‘other supports’, or c) personal growth. On balance, support from home visitation was most commonly described as supporting these changes. Support and assets were explored from a broad family and environmental context. Practice implications for home visitation and areas for future research were identified.
Transcending Potential Antecedent Leisure Constraints: The Case of Women Motorcycle Operators

The purpose of this paper was threefold: 1) to describe past methodological approaches to the study of leisure constraints and evaluate the impact of these approaches on theoretical development, 2)...
Biologics in the Foot and Ankle

Tendon injuries are common in sports and can be difficult to treat. Tendon injuries account for 30% of the $30 billion spent every year on musculoskeletal injuries in the USA alone [1, 2]. While observing U.S. Division I collegiate athletes participating in 37 sports, Raikin, Garras, and Krapchev found that foot and ankle injuries accounted for 27% of all musculoskeletal injuries [3]. Basketball, in particular, has a relatively high incidence of tendon injuries compared to other sports [4]. Lievers et al. examined the rate of foot and ankle injuries in collegiate American football and found that the rate of foot and ankle injuries was 15 per 10,000 athletic sessions [5]. In tendon healing, primary healing is prolonged and recurrence rates as high as 30% have been reported [6–8]. Given the high cost of foot and ankle injuries, it is important to understand the current challenges facing the treatment of tendon injuries, as well as identify optimal treatment strategies for rehabilitating athletes effectively.
Power Grid Optimal Topology Control Considering Correlations of System Uncertainties

This article presents a probabilistic formulation and solution technique for the application of dc optimal power flow-based network topology control through transmission line switching strategies. Efficient utilization of the point estimation method (PEM) is pursued to model the system uncertainties, i.e., the stochastic load profile and the intermittent renewable generation. In order to address the computational effectiveness of the suggested probabilistic methodology, the PEM formulation is harnessed by a scenario reduction approach to capture the correlations of the system uncertainties, thereby achieving a more robust and faster operation solution for day-ahead and real-time applications. The proposed approach is applied to a modified IEEE 118-bus test system, where it demonstrates its attractive performance under different test scenarios. To further verify the efficiency and scalability of the proposed algorithms on large-scale systems, the proposed analytics are applied to 200-bus synthetic grid of central Illinois. AC feasibility and transient stability checks are performed on both test systems and the results are extensively analyzed.
Genomic changes and biochemical alterations of seed protein and oil content in a subset of fast neutron induced soybean mutants

Soybean is subjected to genetic manipulation by breeding, mutation, and transgenic approaches to produce value-added quality traits. Among those genetic approaches, mutagenesis through fast neutrons radiation is intriguing because it yields a variety of mutations, including single/multiple gene deletions and/or duplications. Characterizing the seed composition of the fast neutron mutants and its relationship with gene mutation is useful towards understanding oil and protein traits in soybean. From a large population of fast neutron mutagenized plants, we selected ten mutants based on a screening of total oil and protein content using near infra-red spectroscopy. These ten mutants were regrown, and the seeds were analyzed for oil by GC-MS, protein profiling by SDS-PAGE and gene mapping by comparative genomic hybridization. The mutant 2R29C14Cladecr233cMN15 (nicknamed in this study as L10) showed higher protein and lower oil content compared to the wild type, followed by three other lines (nicknamed in this study as L03, L05, and L06). We characterized the fatty acid methyl esters profile of the trans-esterified oil and found the presence of five major fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids) at varying proportions among the mutants. Protein profile using SDS-PAGE of the ten mutants did exhibit discernable variation between storage (glycinin and β-conglycinin) and anti-nutritional factor (trypsin inhibitor) proteins. In addition, we physically mapped the position of the gene deletions or duplications in each mutant using comparative genomic hybridization. Characterization of oil and protein profile in soybean fast neutron mutants will assist scientist and breeders to develop new value-added soybeans with improved protein and oil quality traits.
Assessing the Dependability of Apache Spark System: Streaming Analytics on Large-Scale Ocean Data

Real-world data from diverse domains require real-time scalable analysis. Large-scale data processing frameworks or engines such as Hadoop fall short when results are needed on-the-fly. Apache Spark’s streaming library is increasingly becoming a popular choice as it can stream and analyze a significant amount of data. In this paper, we analyze large-scale geo-temporal data collected from the USGODAE (United States Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment) data catalog, and showcase and assess the dependability of Spark stream processing. We measure the latency of streaming and monitor scalability by adding and removing nodes in the middle of a streaming job. We also verify the fault tolerance by stopping nodes in the middle of a job and making sure that the job is rescheduled and completed on other nodes. We design a full-stack application that automates data collection, data processing and visualizing the results. We also use Google Maps API to visualize results by color coding the world map with values from various analytics.
Detrital record of the late Oligocene – Early Miocene mafic volcanic arc in the southern Patagonian Andes (~51 °S) from single-clast geochronology and trace element geochemistry

Abstract Retroarc foreland basins are important archives of continental arc magmatism and upper plate deformational processes that control the evolution of continental lithosphere. However, resolving source areas in foreland basin infill dominated from mixed mafic and recycled sediment using conventional methods such as detrital zircon geochronology poses a challenge to thorough analysis due to lower zircon fertility and the higher susceptibility to weathering of mafic lithologies. Here, we integrate whole rock 40Ar/39Ar geochronology and major and trace element geochemistry data from volcanic clasts from the lower Miocene infill of the Magallanes-Austral Basin and local Sierra Baguales intrusive rocks to understand the distribution of mafic sources and Neogene changes in arc magmatism in between multiple ridge subduction events in the southern Patagonian Andes. Potential source areas for the coarse-grained mafic detritus include the Eocene plateau lavas, the Late Jurassic-Miocene Southern Patagonian batholith, and the Late Jurassic Sarmiento Ophiolitic Complex. Published detrital zircon U-Pb age spectra suggest that all three sources are viable contributors to the basin, though the paucity of Jurassic and Eocene zircons preclude these as major sources. Here, new 40Ar/39Ar dating of the volcanic clasts from the early Miocene Rio Guillermo Formation reveals latest Oligocene to early Miocene eruptive ages (∼25-22 Ma), indicating syndepositional eruption with the ancestral Rio Guillermo fluvial sedimentation. A single dated clast yields a Late Cretaceous age (∼102 Ma). The clasts are dominantly basaltic andesite with Ba/Ta ∼500-1000, La/Ta >20, and Ba/La >15, indicating an arc-derived melt source. We propose that the clasts record a Miocene mafic continental arc source area in the Patagonian Andes, which has since been removed by erosion and is thus sparsely represented in the batholith. Furthermore, we suggest that this early Miocene phase of arc volcanism, which postdates Eocene and Oligocene backarc magmatism and pre-dates middle Miocene to recent Chile Ridge backarc magmatism, reflects a return to normal arc volcanism along the Patagonian margin following a cessation due to ridge subduction and subsequent slab window migration. New geochemistry and 40Ar/39Ar data from a basaltic dike in the Sierra Baguales, which crosscuts the Cenozoic stratigraphic section, records plateau magmatism ∼16 Ma associated with incipient Chile Ridge slab window volcanism.
Development and transference of intentional self-regulation through a sport-based youth development program

Intentional self-regulation (ISR) is a critical personal asset associated with positive youth development (PYD). It is generally assumed that sport-based youth development (SBYD) programs cultivate...
Long-term effects of moderate concussive brain injury during adolescence on synaptic and tonic GABA currents in dentate projection neurons.

Progressive physiological changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus circuits following traumatic brain injury contribute to temporal evolution of neurological sequelae. Although early posttraumatic changes in dentate synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA currents have been reported, whether they evolve over time and remain distinct between the two projection neuron classes, granule cells and semilunar granule cells, has not been evaluated. We examined changes in tonic GABA currents and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) and in dentate projection neurons one and three month after moderate concussive fluid percussion injury (FPI) in adolescent rats. Granule cell tonic GABA current amplitude remained elevated up to one month after FPI, but decreased to levels comparable to age-matched controls by three months postinjury. Granule cell sIPSC frequency, which we previously reported to be increased one week after FPI, remained higher than in age-matched controls at one month and was significantly reduced three months after FPI. In contrast to the early decrease, tonic GABA current amplitude and sIPSC frequency in semilunar granule cell was not different from controls three months after FPI. The switch in granule cell inhibitory inputs from early increase to subsequent decrease could contribute to the delayed emergence of cognitive deficits and seizure susceptibility after brain injury.
Mathematical modeling of heat transfer in y-shaped well couples for developing gas hydrate reservoirs using geothermal energy

Abstract This study presents a novel technique to develop offshore gas hydrates using geothermal energy. The technique involves configuring a pair of y-shaped wellbores, which transport the geothermal energy from the geothermal zone to the hydrate-bearing zone using a working fluid (i.e., seawater) to facilitate the dissociation of gas from the gas hydrates. One of the wellbores is a heat absorber located in the geothermal zone, which warms up the seawater. The heated seawater flows to another wellbore called a heat dissipator located in the hydrate-bearing zone, which heats the gas hydrates. A mathematical model is established to obtain the temperature profiles of the working fluid along the gas recovery wellbore. The mathematical model is an integrated part of the technique to optimize wellbore configurations and operational parameters such as the injection rate of the working fluid. The results suggest that the proposed technique is technically feasible. It is found through sensitivity analysis that the configuration of cement (thermal conductivity and thickness) and the properties of the working fluid (heat capacity and injection rate) are the major factors that affect the heat transfer performance of the process. Higher overall thermal conductivity of the wellbore assembly at the heat absorber and heat dissipator, and lower overall heat conductivity at the vertical wellbore section can increase the heat transfer efficiency of the process. Lower heat capacity and higher injection rates of the working fluid are seen to increase the heat transfer efficiency. The results of this study provide a promising alternative technique for the economical and sustainable extraction of gas hydrate. The derived mathematical model can serve as a fundamental pilot tool for the design, deployment, and operation of the y-shaped well couples.
Estimation of Mexican Market Segments (MEMS) Comparison of Alternative Strategies for Segment Definition

In 1991, the Center for International Business and Environment Studies (CIBES) surveyed the Mexican market, making available appropriate data for the present study of the Mexican Market Segments (MEMS). This study followed the customary technique for defining market segments: that is to cluster a battery of psychographic variables. The goal is the recovery of clearly defined, distinctly separated clusters. However, this goal can be hampered by “noisy” variables which do not contribute to, and may actually mask, the underlying cluster structure.
A new optimal algorithm for weighted approximation and integration over ℝ

The complexities of weighted approximation and weighted integration problems for univariate functions defined over ℝ have recently been found in [7]. Complexity (almost) optimal algorithms have also been provided therein. In this paper, we propose another class of (almost) optimal algorithms that, for a number of instances, are easier to implement. More importantly, these new algorithms have a cost smaller than the original algorithms from [7]. Since both classes of algorithms are (almost) optimal, their costs differ by a multiplicative constant that depends on the specific weight functions and the error demand. In one of our tests we observed this constant to be as large as four, which means a cost reduction by a factor of four.
From continuum to bound states—and vice versa

A number of physical phenomena related to reaction thresholds are discussed. Some history and some general remarks are included. The principal focus is on Coulomb‐bound systems, their formation in nuclear reactions, their structure, and their decay. Among the atom‐like systems considered are πA pionic atoms, Positronium, pionium (π+π−), and multipionic (NπA) atoms.
Localization of upstream silencer elements involved in the expression of cone transducin alpha-subunit (GNAT2).

Purpose. To localize cis-acting elements involved in the expression of the cone-specific G-protein, cone transducin α-subunit (GNAT2). Methods. In this study, the authors used a genomic clone, HGLG3, to sequence 3139 base pairs of the upstream region of the GNAT2 gene and to localize cis-acting elements involved in the expression of GNAT2. Upstream elements were localized functionally by transfection of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene constructs containing nested deletions of this up-stream region into WERI-Rbl cells. Cell specificity of the localized elements was determined by transfection of the HeLa cells. Trans-acting factor-binding sites to functional cis-acting elements were determined by DNaseI footprinting. Cell specificity of protein interaction with footprinted regions was tested by electrophoretic mobility shifts with nuclear extracts from WERI-Rbl and HeLa cells. Results. Transfection of WERI-Rbl and HeLa cells revealed the presence of a strong, noncell-specific silencer region between -1130 and -23, a weak, cell-specific promoter between -151 and -10, and a stronger, noncell-specific element between +143 and +167. DNaseI footprinting showed three major footprints (S1, S2, and S3) between -807 and -176, indicating the binding sites for putative negative trans-acting factors. Individual footprinted sequences had similar electrophoretic mobility shifts when they were incubated with nuclear extracts from either WERI-Rbl or HeLa cells, suggesting that these cells express the same negative factors. Conclusions. The expression of the GNAT2 gene is controlled by a strong silencer region, a weak upstream cell-specific promoter, and a strong downstream element. The silencer region interacts with similar proteins from retina- and nonretina-derived cell lines.
Chapter 21 Assaying Histone Interactions by Sedimentation Equilibrium and Other Metbods

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on assaying histone interactions by sedimentation equilibrium and other methods. The role of histones in determining chromatin structure must involve a combination of histone–DNA and histone–histone interactions. Histones have at least two interaction sites: a positively charged region to interact with the DNA, and a region to interact with another histone. Thus, the histones may serve as “adaptors” linking two DNA regions and restricting the conformational freedom of the chromatin. The chapter discusses some of the techniques that may be usefully applied to histones. In sedimentation–equilibrium (SE) experiments of favorable systems, the investigator may estimate the molecular weight and concentrations of all macromolecular species and determine the stoichiometry and thermodynamics of reversible associations. The SE experiments are uncomplicated by nonequilibrium and hydrodynamic factors that occur in the analysis of transport experiments (sedimentation velocity, gel-permeation chromatography, and electrophoretic mobility). The SE experiments, however, may be incapable of resolving a complex system of many sedimenting species. The limitations of these experiments and modern strategies of data analysis are discussed in the chapter. The sedimentation equilibrium theory is described and an analysis of interacting systems is presented in the chapter.
Continuity improvements via inertial augmentation of GPS-based landing system

The role of inertial backup of GPS-based landing systems in the improvement of continuity is investigated. The purpose is to understand the relationship between the grade of inertial system and the system accuracy during various GPS discontinuity scenarios. GPS outages are considered at various locations on the approach. For systems that included pseudolites (PLs), outages are considered before entering the PL range of coverage (the "bubble") and after exiting the bubble. The inertial systems are assumed to be calibrated by GPS during the enroute portion of flight. Linear covariance analysis and Monte Carlo techniques are used to determine the navigation accuracy at the runway threshold to determine whether the system meets the various levels of Required Navigation Performance (RNP). It was found that in the event of a total loss of satellite GPS signals prior to bubble entrance, a navigation grade INS could be calibrated by 3 suitably placed PLs sufficiently accurately to provide an RNP that allowed the most stringent landing minimums (Category III). Other less drastic outage scenarios all indicated that substantial improvements in continuity can be achieved with inertial system augmentation. Except for GPS outages within 50 seconds of touchdown, navigation grade inertial systems were required for useful improvements. Conditions that allow tactical missile grade inertial systems for CAT III RNP for the case of a GPS outage within 50 seconds from touchdown are specified.
On liquid droplet combustion at high pressures.

2 to 5. It is found that in the upstream there is a wake or heat transfer along the x axis and this wake is larger for higher freestream temperature. On the x axis in the upstream the temperature has a significant change in a short distance near the leading edge and becomes essentially uniform beyond the station x/L = —1.9 (not shown). In the y direction the radiation has a large effect on the temperature field in the range 0 < y/L < 0.2. All of these temperature variations are larger in the case of higher freestream temperatures. In the downstream the temperature variation in the vicinity of the plate should be determined from the boundary-layer equations. Here we show the only results for the optically thick case. For the optically thin case the procedure is quite the same. For gases of finite optical depth the energy equation is a nonlinear integro-differential equation of high complexity; this method may still be applicable but needs extensive computing time.
Out-of-focus point spread functions

There are many ways in which the performance of a lens can be characterized, most of which measure properties of the in-focus image. The current work instead centers on measuring properties of an out-of-focus (OOF) image. The image created by imaging a point of light is commonly known as the point spread function (PSF). We have found that by measuring the OOF PSF a great deal of otherwise unavailable information about the lens can be obtained. The current work presents observations and sample images from measurements made on a collection of over 125 lenses. A variety of the attributes than can be obtained from study of OOF PSFs, and some of their applications, are discussed.
Macrophage-specific transgenic expression of cholesteryl ester hydrolase attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation and also improves glucose tolerance in ob/ob mice.

Cellular cholesterol homeostasis is increasingly being recognized as an important determinant of the inflammatory status of macrophages, and a decrease in cellular cholesterol levels polarizes macr...
Monoclonal autoantibody production by hybrid cell lines.

Abstract Autoantibody-secreting hybrid cell lines were obtained by fusion of spleen cells from unimmunized (New Zealand Black × New Zealand White) F1 (NZB/NZW) and NZB mice with mouse myeloma cell lines. Cell lines producing autoantibodies to denatured DNA (dDNA), mouse thymocytes, and mouse erythrocytes have been cloned, and the antibodies partially characterized. The antibodies to dDNA and mouse erythrocytes are of the IgG class, while antibodies to mouse thymocytes include IgG and IgM. All of the anti-thymocyte and anti-erythrocyte antibodies appear to react with antigens normally exposed on the cell surfaces. The antibodies to dDNA do not cross react with native DNA (nDNA).
Deficits in EMTALA Knowledge Among Pediatric Physicians.

Objective:All US hospitals that participate in Medicare and Medicaid are regulated by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). The law was enacted to prevent hospitals from turning away patients with emergency medical conditions. The law imposes specific obligations on hospital
Time- and Capacity-Based Measurement of Restaurant Revenue

In this article, the authors examine how a common metric of revenue performance—RevPASH, or revenue per available seat-hour—is calculated. In a simple example, a real restaurant, and an extensive simulation study, the authors find inaccuracies in the existing approaches to calculating RevPASH. However, the extent of the inaccuracy is much greater when RevPASH is calculated based on check-open times rather than on the time interval from check open to check close. Since accurate RevPASH values are important in guiding managers’ revenue-enhancing decisions, the article’s findings have importance for practice. Furthermore, as RevPASH has been a commonly used metric for academic research, the article’s findings are important for those performing research on restaurant revenue management.
An Analysis of Firearms Training Performance among Active Law Enforcement Officers in the USA

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of differing stressors, associated with common exercises for handgun training of law enforcement officers, on performance and heart rate. Law en...
Role of Osteotomy in Cartilage Resurfacing Procedures

Knee realignment osteotomies have become increasingly important as an adjunct to unload the affected compartment and theoretically protect cartilage repair. Owing to preservation of bone stock, medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy has become a popular treatment of varus malalignment, while lateral distal opening-wedge osteotomy is increasingly being used as a surgical treatment for correcting valgus malalignment. This study describes the preoperative assessment, technical description, postoperative rehabilitation, and potential pitfalls of each of these 2 osteotomies. Based on the results from a limited number of studies, expected outcomes following combined realignment osteotomy and cartilage restoration procedures have been reviewed.
An accelerated procedure for hypergraph coarsening on the GPU

One of the obstacles in accelerating sparse graph applications using GPUs is load imbalance, which in certain cases causes threads to stall. We investigate a specific application known as hypergraph coarsening and explore a technique for addressing load imbalance. The hypergraph is a generalization of the graph where one edge may connect more than two nodes. Many problems of interest may be expressed in terms of optimal partitioning of hypergraphs where the edge cut is minimized. The most costly step in hypergraph partitioning is hypergraph coarsening, the process of grouping nodes with similar connectivity patterns into one node to yield a new hypergraph with fewer nodes. Hypergraph coarsening proves to be computationally challenging on GPUs because many hypergraphs exhibit an irregular distribution of connections. To address the resulting load imbalance, we explore a novel task allocation scheme to distribute work more evenly among GPU threads.
Metabolic Footprinting: A New Approach to Identify Physiological Changes in Complex Microbial Communities upon Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Metabolic footprinting coupled with statistical analysis was applied to multiple, chemically stressed activated sludge cultures to identify probable biomarkers that indicate community stress. The impact of cadmium (Cd), 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), and N-ethyl-maleimide (NEM) shock loads on the composition of the soluble fraction of activated sludge cultures was analyzed by gross biomolecular analyses and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Fresh mixed liquor from four distinct treatment plants was each divided in four different batches and was subjected to no chemical addition (control) and spike additions of the stressors Cd, DNP, or NEM. The results indicate that chemical stress caused a significant release of proteins, carbohydrates, and humic acids from the floc structure into the bulk liquid. Using discriminant function analysis (DFA) with genetic algorithm variable selection (GA-DFA), the samples subjected to the different stress conditions plus control could be differentiated, thereby indicating that the footprints of the soluble phase generated by LC-MS were different for the four conditions tested and, therefore, were toxin-specific but community-independent. These footprints, thus, contain information about specific biomolecular differences between the stressed samples, and we found that only a limited number of m/z (mass to charge) ratios from the mass spectra were needed to differentiate between the control and each stressed sample. Since the experiments were conducted with mixed liquor from four distinct wastewater treatment plants, the discriminant m/z ratios may potentially be used as universal stress biomarkers in activated sludge systems.
Single-molecule studies of complex systems: the replisome

A complete, system-level understanding of biological processes requires comprehensive information on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the underlying biochemical reactions. A wide variety of structural, biochemical, and molecular biological techniques have led to a quantitative understanding of the molecular properties and mechanisms essential to the processes of life. Yet, the ensemble averaging inherent to these techniques limits us in understanding the dynamic behavior of the molecular participants. Recent advances in imaging and molecular manipulation techniques have made it possible to observe the activity of individual enzymes and record "molecular movies" that provide insight into their dynamics and reaction mechanisms. An important future goal is extending the applicability of single-molecule techniques to the study of larger, more complex multi-protein systems. In this review, the DNA replication machinery will be used as an example to illustrate recent progress in the development of various single-molecule techniques and its contribution to our understanding of the orchestration of multiple enzymatic processes in large biomolecular systems.
Computational complexity of the fast adaptive composite grid (FAC) method

Abstract This paper develops bounds on the computational complexity of the FAC algorithm which is a multi-level adaptive method for discretization and solution of partial differential equations. The estimates include the cost of the complete scheme, including the dynamic grid refinement process. They show that, for many applications, FAC has computational complexity of the order of the number of points in the final adapted grid. This is significant because adaptive methods that are not based on multi-level techniques generally have much higher complexity.
Testing linear and loglinear error components regressions against Box-Cox alternatives

This paper derives Lagrange multiplier tests based on double-length artificial regressions for testing linear and loglinear error component regressions against Box-Cox alternatives. These tests are easy to implement and should prove useful in panel data regressions.