cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Safety of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy with direct bronchoscopic guidance for solid organ allograft recipients.

OBJECTIVE To determine the safety of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) for solid organ allograft recipients, who have increased risks of bleeding and infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the records of patients who underwent solid organ transplant between January 1, 2001, and September 30, 2005, followed by PDT (using the Ciaglia technique) with direct bronchoscopic guidance. We recorded comorbid conditions, number of days from intubation and transplant, positive end-expiratory pressures, ratios of Pao 2 to fraction of inspired oxygen, coagulation study findings, complications, and procedure-related mortality rates. RESULTS Of the 51 patients in our study, 17 had undergone lung transplant; 32, liver transplant; and 2, kidney transplant. The median age was 55 years (range, 27-73), and 53% of patients were men. The median time from intubation to PDT was 10 days and from transplant to PDT, 22 days. The median ratio of Pao 2 to fraction of inspired oxygen was 293, and the median positive end-expiratory pressure was 5 cm H 2 O. Twenty-one patients were receiving dialysis, and 11 were recovering from sepsis (of these, 8 were receiving vasopressors). Ten had coagulopathies (none of which were associated with bleeding complications). Complications were infrequent (7 periprocedural, 4 postprocedural) and included bleeding, bradycardia, hypotension, tracheal ring fracture, and cannula malfunction. Of the bleeding complications, only 2 were clinically remarkable and required removal of the tracheostomy or surgical revision. No infectious complications or procedure-related deaths were noted. CONCLUSION Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy was tolerated well in recipients of solid organ allografts and had a relatively low risk of major complications and a low procedure-related mortality rate. This method should be considered an acceptable alternative to surgical tracheostomy.
Fatigue crack propagation and fracture characteristics of in-situ titanium-matrix composites

Abstract In this paper, the fracture and fatigue crack growth behavior of in-situ titanium-matrix composites reinforced with whiskers of titanium boride, are discussed. The influence of boron additions on the cyclic fatigue crack growth behavior of several titanium-base alloys is elucidated. The improved crack growth resistance of certain compositions is explained by considering the effects of crack–microstructure interactions and the limited effects of crack-tip shielding due to ligament bridging.
Free-Radical Synthesis of Poly(2-ethylacrylic acid) Fractions of Low Polydispersity: Effects of Molecular Weight and Polydispersity on the pH-Dependent Conformational Transition in Aqueous Solutions

The interaction of the hydrophobic polyelectrolyte, poly(2-ethylacrylic acid) [PEAA, 1], with phospholipid bilayer membranes has been studied extensively in this laboratory over the past fifteen years. This system has been tailored to create lipid vesicles that respond via release of contents to changes in pH, temperature, light intensity, or concentration of a solute such as glucose.
Effects of travel cost and participation in recreational activities on national forest visits

In the face of higher travel costs due to rising gasoline prices and scarce budget resources, we explored differences in the impacts of travel costs on recreational demand for visitors participating in various recreational activities. Five individual travel cost models were estimated, one for each of 5 national forests (i.e., Allegheny, Coconino, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Ouachita, and Wenatchee). Travel cost had a consistently negative effect on the number of visits (and thus caused losses in aggregate consumer surplus) across all recreational activities and national forests, although the magnitudes of the effects varied significantly. For example, decreased visit numbers (and thus the aggregate loss of consumer surplus) resulting from hypothetical increases in travel costs are greater for non-trail and backpacking-activity participants than for trail and backpacking-activity participants in the Allegheny national forest. This finding implies that increases in funds allocated towards improving non-trail and backpacking-based recreational activities may stem the loss of consumer surplus due to the decline in visits to the Allegheny national forest caused by the increase in travel cost more than similar increases in funds allocated to trail and backpacking-activities. These results are important because many national-forest managers are facing declining visits resulting from the effects of higher gasoline prices on travel costs. Thus, they can use our results in making decisions about allocating scarce budget resources to recreational activities that have the greatest potential to stem the decline in national-forest visits.
Sequential Biotransformation of 5-Pregnenolone-7α-3H and Progesterone-4-14C Into Androgens by Mouse Testes

The sequential biotransformation of 5-pregnenolone-7α-3H and progesterone- 4-14C into testosterone was ascertained for mouse testicular tissue in vitro. In this respect, 5-pregnenolone-7α-3H was converted into progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, and androstenedione. Similarly, progesterone-4-MC was converted into these compounds at a rate paralleling that of 5- pregnenolone-7α-3H. However, there was a much more rapid accumulation of 3H-labeled steroid in the testosterone steroid fraction than was observed for 14C-labeled steroid. These data indicate that an alternate pathway exists for the biotransformation of 5-pregnenolone into testosterone with an initial rate faster than that observed for progesterone. This alternate route was postulated as going through 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrostenedione and 5-androstenediol. After approximately 90 to 120 min of incubation, there was an increase in the 3H- and 14C- labeled steroid content of the androstenedione and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone steroid p...
The expression of the Alzheimer’s Amyloid Precursor Protein-like gene is regulated by developmental timing microRNAs and their targets in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of dense plaques in the brain, resulting in progressive dementia. A major plaque component is the β-amyloid peptide, which is a cleavage product of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Studies of dominant inheritable familial AD support the hypothesis that APP is critical for AD development. On the other hand, the pathogenesis of amyloid plaque deposition in AD is thought to be the result of age-related changes with unknown mechanisms. Here we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of APP, APP-like-1 (apl-1), functions with and is under the control of molecules regulating developmental progression. In C. elegans, the timing of cell fate determination is controlled by the heterochronic genes, including let-7 microRNAs. C. elegans apl-1 shows significant genetic interactions with let-7 family microRNAs and let-7-targeted heterochronic genes, hbl-1, lin-41 and lin-42. apl-1 expression is upregulated during the last larval stage in hypodermal seam cells which is transcriptionally regulated by hbl-1, lin-41 and lin-42. Moreover, the levels of the apl-1 transcription are modulated by the activity of let-7 family microRNAs. Our work places apl-1 in a developmental timing pathway and may provide new insights into the time-dependent progression of AD.
Feature map learning with partial training data

Summary form only given, as follows. The authors discuss a straightforward extension of the Kohonen self-organizing feature map that permits training and operation with incomplete training examples-input vectors in which values for some elements are missing. The matching and weight updating process is performed in the input subspace defined by the available input values. Three examples demonstrated the effectiveness of the extension. >
The American Brachytherapy Society recommendations for brachytherapy of soft tissue sarcomas

Abstract Purpose: This report presents the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) guidelines for the use of brachytherapy for patients with soft tissue sarcoma. Methods and Materials: Members of the ABS with expertise in soft tissue sarcoma formulated brachytherapy guidelines based upon their clinical experience and a review of the literature. The Board of Directors of the ABS approved the final report. Results: Brachytherapy used alone or in combination with external beam irradiation is an established means of safely providing adjuvant local treatment after resection for soft tissue sarcomas in adults and in children. Brachytherapy options include low dose rate techniques with iridium 192 or iodine 125, fractionated high dose rate brachytherapy, or intraoperative high dose rate therapy. Recommendations are made for patient selection, techniques, dose rates, and dosages. Complications and possible interventions to minimize their occurrence and severity are reviewed. Conclusion: Brachytherapy represents an effective means of enhancing the therapeutic ratio, offering both biologic and dosimetric advantage in the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma. The treatment approach used depends upon the institution, physician expertise, and the clinical situation. Guidelines are established for the use of brachytherapy in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in adults and in children. Practitioners and cooperative groups are encouraged to use these guidelines to formulate their treatment and dose-reporting policies. These guidelines will be modified, as further clinical results become available.
Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization of an Intraparenchymal Renal Artery Aneurysm in a Patient With Neurofibromatosis

True renal artery aneurysms are rare. They are generally asymptomatic, however, a few may present with hypertension, rupture, or renal dysfunction secondary to distal embolization. Indications for intervention include aneurysm of ≥2.0 cm in diameter, renovascular hypertension, enlarging aneurysm, associated dissection /rupture, and aneurysms in women of child-bearing age/ pregnancy. Endovascular therapy through coil embolization or stent graft exclusion is the recommended management. Coil embolization of the first and second order branch aneurysms is often associated with distal parenchymal loss and current stent graft technology prohibits use of these endoprostheses in the branch renal arteries. In this report, we describe successful stent-assisted coil embolization of an intraparenchymal aneurysm while preserving the distal parenchyma in a young woman with Neurofibromatosis type 1.
NUCLEOPHILIC SUBSTITUTION REACTIONS ON ANTIMONY(III) 0,0-DISUBSTITUTED PHOSPHORODITHIOATES

Abstract Antimony(III) tris(0,0-diisobutyl phosphorodithioate), 1 (R = i-Bu) has been found to undergo a nucleophilic displacement reaction with sodium 1-propanethiolate to give antimony(III) tris-(1-propanethiolate), 4, and sodium 0,0-diisobutyl phosphorodithioate (8, R = i-Bu). Reaction of 1 (R = i-Bu) with phenyllithium gave triphenylstibine and lithium 0,0-diisobutyl phosphorodithioate. Similar reactions of various compounds of type 1 with the sodium salts of carboxylic acids and with the sodium salt of pyrrole were also found to occur. Furthermore, antimony tris(0,0-diisobutyl phosphorodithioate), 1 (R = i-Bu), was found to undergo solvolysis with n-propyl mercaptan to give 4 and 0,0-diisobutyl phosphorodithioic acid 5. Compounds of type 1 are used as passivating agents in petroleum refining, and reactions of the types described for 1 with n-propyl mercaptan and with the salts of carboxylic acids probably occur when “Phil-Ad CA” is added to the feedstock of a fluid catalytic cracking unit.
Distributed Hashing for Scalable Multicast in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Several multicast protocols for mobile ad hoc networks have been proposed, which build multicast trees by using location information that is available from the Global Positioning System (GPS) or localization algorithms and use geographic forwarding to forward packets down the multicast trees. These stateless multicast protocols carry encoded membership, location, and tree information in each packet and are more efficient and robust than stateful protocols (for example, ADMR and ODMRP), as they avoid the difficulty of maintaining distributed state in the presence of frequent topology changes. However, current stateless multicast protocols are not scalable to large groups because of the per-packet encoding overhead, and the centralized group membership and location management. We present the hierarchical rendezvous point multicast (HRPM) protocol, which significantly improves the scalability of stateless multicast with respect to the group size. HRPM consists of two key design ideas: 1) hierarchical decomposition of a large group into a hierarchy of recursively organized manageable-sized subgroups and 2) the use of distributed geographic hashing to construct and maintain such a hierarchy at virtually no cost. Our detailed simulations demonstrates that HRPM achieves significantly enhanced scalability and performance due to hierarchical organization and distributed hashing.
Enhancement in ultrasonic micro-transport using focused inter-digital transducers in a surface acoustic wave device: Fluid-structure interaction study

Biosensing and microfluidic applications of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, involving micro-transport, rely on acoustic streaming resulting from high intensity sound waves interacting with the fluid medium. In this work, we investigate the enhancement in the efficiency of acoustic streaming via the use of interdigital transducer (IDT) modifications, viz. focused IDTs (F-IDTs). We have developed, for the first time, a three dimensional bi-directionally coupled fluid-structure interaction finite element model of a focused SAW (F-SAW) device with F-IDTs based on concentric wave surfaces and subject to liquid loading. The simulated device displacement profiles indicate focusing and enhancement of surface displacement amplitudes, instantaneous fluid velocities, and streaming velocities in a F-SAW device compared to a conventional SAW device having uniform IDTs with a similar size, finger periodicity and applied input voltage. Furthermore, the F-SAW device brings about focusing of acoustic energy near the center of the device, thereby enhancing the device displacements and fluid velocities in the center of the delay path in contrast to the conventional SAW in which these quantities decay on moving away from input IDTs towards the device center. Thus, our results indicate enhancement in acoustic streaming induced flow in F-SAW devices compared to conventional SAW. The results have a general applicability for various biosensing and microfluidic actuation applications that rely on the acoustic streaming phenomenon.
Configuring Who Does What in Watershed Management: The Massachusetts Watershed Initiative

The goal of the Massachusetts Watershed Initiative (MWI) is to use a watershed approach to restore and maintain the integrity of state waters. The MWI is presented as an effort to bring about the convergence of the agendas of government, the informed public, and the general public. In the planning phase of the MWI's pilot project in the Neponset River Watershed, government and the informed public successfully struggled to create a joint basin-wide action plan. Stronger outreach is needed to involve the broader public and to engage local municipalities and businesses more fully.
Boundedness and vanishing of solutions for a forced delay dynamic equation

We give conditions under which all solutions of a time-scale first-order nonlinear variable-delay dynamic equation with forcing term are bounded and vanish at infinity, for arbitrary time scales that are unbounded above. A nontrivial example illustrating an application of the results is provided.
An Increased Potential for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission to Contribute to Water Quality Studies for Inland, Case 2 Waters

The Landsat Data Continuity Mission's (LDCM) Operational Land Imager (OLI) is a new sensor being developed by NASA which is both radiometrically and spatially sufficient for the monitoring of case 2 waters. This study, based on the sensor's design, presents the initial results of an experiment to determine what impact its improved features will have on water quality assessment. Specifically, we investigate how the addition of a deep blue band, 12-bit quantization, and improved signal-to-noise ratios affects our ability to retrieve water constituents. Preliminary tests are performed in the absence of atmospheric effects and indicate that the LDCM sensor can achieve about 5% error in the retrieval process while its predecessor ETM+ produces errors of over 20%. These results illustrate LDCM's potential to be a useful tool for the continuous monitoring of coastal and inland water resources. Ongoing work is focused on atmospherically compensating the data from the OLI instrument to actually achieve the potential demonstrated in this study.
Courage: Making Teamwork Work Well

The move toward flatter and more flexible team situations has prompted the need for acts of leadership outside a formally designated role. In these situations, the choice of whether or not to act as a leader in the team is a discretionary choice and often involves risk. We consider the qualities of a team member that make up the propensity to act like a leader in situations of risk where the choice to act is most problematic. We propose that what we know about the virtue of “courage” lends valuable insights into this question and offer a framework of three qualities (character, confidence, and credibility) that serve as the foundation for the construct. Finally, we offer practical implications for the selection and retention related to the virtue of courage in team composition.
Effects of milling on granulation particle-size distribution.

A series of lactose granulations made with various amounts of starch paste and water was subjected to milling through different screens and the particle sizes were determined. The distributions were log-normal when the size of the coarse material was determined by sieve analysis and the size of the fine material was determined microscopically. An equation was developed to describe the increase in surface area, ΔO, when material is milled through a screen with n holes of diameter d; this equation takes the form: log[n(ΔO)] =-q(log d) + p, where q and p are constants.
Recombinant expression and functional analysis of proteases from Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis, and Yersinia pestis

Uncharacterized proteases naturally expressed by bacterial pathogens represents important topic in infectious disease research, because these enzymes may have critical roles in pathogenicity and cell physiology. It has been observed that cloning, expression and purification of proteases often fail due to their catalytic functions which, in turn, cause toxicity in the E. coli heterologous host. In order to address this problem systematically, a modified pipeline of our high-throughput protein expression and purification platform was developed. This included the use of a specific E. coli strain, BL21(DE3) pLysS to tightly control the expression of recombinant proteins and various expression vectors encoding fusion proteins to enhance recombinant protein solubility. Proteases fused to large fusion protein domains, maltosebinding protein (MBP), SP-MBP which contains signal peptide at the N-terminus of MBP, disulfide oxidoreductase (DsbA) and Glutathione S-transferase (GST) improved expression and solubility of proteases. Overall, 86.1% of selected protease genes including hypothetical proteins were expressed and purified using a combination of five different expression vectors. To detect novel proteolytic activities, zymography and fluorescence-based assays were performed and the protease activities of more than 46% of purified proteases and 40% of hypothetical proteins that were predicted to be proteases were confirmed. Multiple expression vectors, employing distinct fusion tags in a high throughput pipeline increased overall success rates in expression, solubility and purification of proteases. The combinatorial functional analysis of the purified proteases using fluorescence assays and zymography confirmed their function.
Critical Behavior in a Class of O(n) Invariant Field Theories in Two-Dimensions

Critical behavior in a class of two-dimensional field theories which exhibit dynamical symmetry breaking at zero temperature is analyzed in the $\frac{1}{N}$ approximation. We show that, in the case of an $\mathrm{O}(N)$-invariant theory of massless, $N$-component, Fermi fields, a phase transition takes place in the limit as $N$ goes to infinity. The critical temperature, above which the model becomes symmetric, is given in terms of the induced fermion mass at zero temperature, ${m}_{f}^{0}$, as ${m}_{f}^{0}{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{c}=1.764$. The equivalence between the critical parameters of the theory and those predicted by the BCS theory of superconductivity is established. We show that the BCS gap equation follows from the stability conditions imposed on the effective potential. The phase transition is discussed in a thermodynamical analog of the model. The analysis of the symmetry behavior of the theory is carried out by functional methods.
Current Concepts of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor Gene Regulation

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), a pituitary glycoprotein hormone, is an integral component of the endocrine axis that regulates gonadal function and fertility. To transmit its signal, FSH must bind to its receptor (FSHR) located on Sertoli cells of the testis and granulosa cells of the ovary. Thus, both the magnitude and the target of hormone response are controlled by mechanisms that determine FSHR levels and cell-specific expression, which are supported by transcription of its gene. The present review examines the status of FSHR/Fshr gene regulation, emphasizing the importance of distal sequences in FSHR/Fshr transcription, new insights gained from the influx of genomics data and bioinformatics, and emerging trends that offer direction in deciphering the FSHR/Fshr regulatory landscape.
Collective Efficacy and Crime in Los Angeles Neighborhoods: Implications for the Latino Paradox*

We use data from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Study (LAFANS) to examine the degree to which social ties and collective efficacy influence neighborhood levels of crime, net of neighborhood structural characteristics. Results indicate that residential instability and collective efficacy were each associated with lower log odds of robbery victimization, while social ties had a positive effect on robbery victimization. Further, collective efficacy mediated 77 percent of the association between concentrated disadvantage and robbery victimization, while social ties had no mediating effect. The mediation effect for concentrated disadvantage, however, was substantially weaker in the Latino neighborhoods (where it was 52%) than in the non-Latino neighborhoods (where it was 82%), suggesting that a ‘‘Latino paradox’’ may be present in which crime rates in Latino neighborhoods appear to have less to do with local levels of collective efficacy than in non-Latino neighborhoods. Implications for future research bearing on both the Latino paradox and the systemic model of social control are discussed. For the past century, sociologists have sought to understand why some neighborhoods have high rates of crime and delinquency while others do not. Recent theory and research have coalesced around the notion that social capital and the social control it engenders are dominant causes of neighborhood-level variation in crime (for a review, see Sampson, Morenoff, and Gannon-Rowley 2002). This has led researchers to begin searching for local structural and organizational characteristics that give rise to these protective features of neighborhood life (Burchfield 2009; Sampson, Raudenbush, and Earls 1997; Silver and Miller 2004; Warner 2003). And while these studies have increased our understanding by pointing to the effects of structural disadvantage (Sampson, Raudenbush, and Earls 1997), neighborhood attachment (Burchfield 2009), satisfaction with local policing (Silver and Miller 2004), and the strength of local conventional values (Warner 2003), on collective efficacy to prevent crime and delinquency, compelling questions remain. In particular, research in this area is ambiguous regarding the role that social ties play in enhancing collective efficacy, fostering local social control, and controlling crime (Bellair 1997; Browning, Feinberg, and Dietz 2004; Pattillo
Biomarkers, Risk Factors, and Risk Clarifying the Controversy About Surrogate End Points and Clinical Outcomes

The controversy and confusion about surrogate end points have intensified with the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor drugs based on their ability to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.1 Although these drugs have great potential to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, we still await the most critical evidence about their benefit and risk in outcomes trials. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines biomarkers as indicators of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacological responses to an intervention. But even as biomarkers can reflect the influence of an intervention, changes in their levels may not be indicative of changes in risk.2 When biomarkers are used as proxies for clinical end points, they are referred to as surrogate end points, and facilitate more efficient and timely evaluation of interventions. They are particularly important when the effect of a drug is expected to take extensive time to become manifest. However, changes in surrogate end points cannot be considered equivalent to changes in risk. People too often conflate the pharmacological modification of risk factors with the safety and effectiveness of drugs. Most drugs have the potential to influence a wide range of biological processes far beyond a single biomarker or even a set of biomarkers. I participated in a panel of the IOM that was charged with providing the FDA guidance about evaluating biomarkers and surrogate end points.2 The group was asked for a framework to qualify biomarkers for use in the evaluation of drugs for chronic disease. We were challenged in applying a uniform standard because of our uncertainty about whether an intervention that influenced biomarkers would affect people. It was clear that a simple set of biomarkers could not capture the full effect of any drug. The …
Habitat Loss, Fragmentation, and Restoration

The loss and fragmentation of habitat is a major threat to the continued survival of many species. We argue that, by including spatial processes in restoration management plans, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation can be offset. Yet few management plans take into account spatial effects of habitat conservation/restoration despite the importance of spatial dynamics in species conservation and recovery plans. Tilman et al. (1997) found a “restoration lag” in simulations of species restoration when randomly selecting habitat for restoration. Other studies have suggested that the placement of restored habitat can overcome effects of habitat loss and fragmentation. Here we report the findings of simulations that examine different regional management strategies, focusing on habitat selection. We find that nonrandom restoration practices such as restoring only habitat that is adjacent to those occupied by the target species can dramatically reduce or negate any restoration lag. In fact, we find that the increase in patch occupancy of the landscape can be greater than two-fold in the adjacent versus the random scenarios after only two restoration events, and this increase can be as great as six-fold during the early restoration phase. Many restoration efforts have limitations on both funds and available sites for restoration, necessitating high potential success on any restoration efforts. The incorporation of spatial analyses in restoration management may drastically improve a species' chance of recovery. Therefore, general principles that incorporate spatial processes and sensible management are needed to guide specific restoration efforts.
Streaming potentials: a sensitive index of enzymatic degradation in articular cartilage.

Under physiological conditions, the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage contains a high fixed-charge density, associated with its ionized proteoglycan (PG) molecules. Compression of the highly charged cartilage matrix within the physologic range leads to the production of electrical streaming potentials. We observed significant changes in the potential response due to chemical modifications of the matrix, such as extraction of PG and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) moieties using chondroitinase-ABC and trypsin. The streaming potential was a sensitive index of the degradative loss of these matrix constituents and of the kinetics of the enzymatic degradative process.
Using fuzzy logic for localization in mobile sensor networks: simulations and experiments

Localization is an issue of vital importance for the functioning of autonomous mobile sensor networks. Location information, allows a mobile sensor node to navigate complex environments and perform local tasks successfully. In mobile sensor networks, this information facilitates important functions like topology control, collision avoidance and development and security of routing protocols. This issue can be broadly divided into the problems of global position estimation, and once that is achieved, of local position tracking. To tackle these, mainly two distinct methods have been used in the past. One is the use of specialized hardware and another is the use of probabilistic estimation methods. This paper proposes the use of fuzzy logic to tackle this problem. Fuzzy logic allows us to do away with strict probabilistic rules and to set up heuristic fuzzy rules. It also reduces computation time. A grid-based map is used to describe the environment of the mobile node and its confidence in its position at each grid-point is determined using sensor measurements. In case the node is receiving information from multiple sensors, this paper demonstrates using simulations, the robustness of the scheme to inaccurate sensor information or node confidence within practical limits. This paper also applies the fuzzy rules to track the node's position as it moves. In order to reduce computational cost, this paper proposes limiting the computation of confidences to significant grid-points only. An experiment is conducted using a DIRRS range sensor which demonstrates how the sensor measurements are used for global position estimation and local position tracking.
A Surgical Services Learning Needs Assessment

ABSTRACT Staff development educators are challenged to meet the learning needs of a variety of subspecialties within surgical services departments. A formal learning needs assessment survey, based on the individual self-fulfillment model, provides a means to identify the educational needs of staff members. Using questionnaires constructed for various types of staff members within a surgical services department, the author assessed staff members' clinical, interpersonal, and sociopolitical learning needs. The response rate was 56%, and the identified needs were legal issues, research, equipment (eg, ultrasonic aspirators, pressure monitors), and procedures (eg, cerebral aneurysm repairs, arteriovenous malformation corrections). Limitations included self-identification of needs and a low response rate from one subspecialty; however, the author concludes that the survey format provides an effective means of identifying staff members' learning needs. AORN J 62 (Aug 1995) 251-254.
Dualization of subgradient conditions for optimality

A basic relationship is derived between generalized subgradients of a given function, possibly nonsmooth and nonconvex, and those of a second function obtained from it by partial conjugation. Applications are made to the study of multiplier rules in finite-dimensional optimization and to the theory of the Euler-Lagrange condition and Hamiltonian condition in nonsmooth optimal control.
Examining substance use and affective processes as multivariate risk factors associated with overweight body mass among treatment-seeking smokers.

Cigarette smoking and obesity are two major public health problems. However, factors related to the underlying risk for being overweight are not well established. Certain demographic, smoking, and psychological factors have been linked to overweight/obese body mass. The current study examined a multivariate risk model, stratified by gender, in order to better explicate the nature of overweight body mass among daily smokers. In a sample of treatment-seeking smokers (n = 395), among males and females, (1) older age, (2) stronger expectancies about the weight/appetite control effects of smoking, (3) greater smoking-based inflexibility/avoidance due to smoking-related sensations, and (4) less problematic alcohol use, were associated with being overweight. Additionally, among males, having a tobacco-related medical problem and higher tolerance for physical discomfort aided in the discriminant function model for classifying smokers as overweight. Together, numerous cognitive–affective vulnerabilities and smokin...
Powder Processing of Refractory Metals and Alloys

For the past century the processing of refractory metals and alloys has been linked to powder metallurgy (P/M). A firm understanding of processing has been critical to attaining the desired performance levels. Although the consolidation science is in good shape, the availability of tailored powders with appropriate attributes is a limitation. This presentation reviews the key issues related to refractory metal and alloy processing, with particular emphasis on tungsten and its alloys. An exciting growth area is in liquid phase sintering microelectronic systems where the concern is with thermal properties, specifically for W-Cu and Mo-Cu.
The theory of shear stress and shear strain on planes inclined to the principal directions

Given the magnitudes and orientations of the principal stresses, the normal and shear components of stress acting on a plane of arbitrary orientation are determined either graphically or with the aid of a novel type of vector product. The normal stress or, due to the action of a stress vector ¢r on a plane of pole n is the star product n*~, which is defined as a vector oriented parallel to n with magnitude equal to the dot product n. ¢. The shear stress vector ~s is given by the vector difference or - ¢rn. In the case of a deformation, given the magnitudes and orientations of the principal stretches, the shear strain of an arbitrary line is determined by a related, but significantly different, procedure.
Structure of Isolated Populations of Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen) in the Davis Mountains of Far-West Texas

Abstract Populus tremuloides is one of the most widespread woody species in North America, occurring across Canada, the northern United States, and at higher elevations in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. In Texas, it is found only at the highest elevations in a few disjunct populations in the Guadalupe, Davis, and Chisos Mountains. We examined the structure of six isolated P. tremuloides stands in the Davis Mountains. Stand age ranged from 25 to 65 years. The density of tree-sized P. tremuloides was 429 to 15,520 stems/ha, average basal area was 8.2 to 305.9 cm2/plant, and total basal area 5.1 to 22.9 m2/ha. As stand age increased, density of P. tremuloides decreased and average basal area and total basal area increased. The highest density of seedlings and saplings was in the younger stands. Seventeen woody species were found, with four to 10 woody species in any one stand. While these stands were dominated by P. tremuloides, two stands had Quercus gambelii relative basal area of 34 a...
Mindful attention reduces linguistic intergroup bias

A brief mindfulness intervention diminished bias in favor of one’s in-group and against one’s out-group. In the linguistic intergroup bias (LIB), individuals expect in-group members to behave positively and out-group members to behave negatively. Consequently, individuals choose abstract language beset with character inferences to describe these expected behaviors, and in contrast, choose concrete, objective language to describe unexpected behaviors. Eighty-four participants received either mindful attention instructions (observe their thoughts as fleeting mental states) or immersion instructions (become absorbed in the vivid details of thoughts). After instruction, participants viewed visual depictions of an imagined in-group or out-group member’s positive or negative behavior, selecting the best linguistic description from a set of four descriptions that varied in abstractness. Immersion groups demonstrated a robust LIB. Mindful attention groups, however, exhibited a markedly tempered LIB, suggesting that even a brief mindfulness related instruction can implicitly reduce the propensity to perpetuate stereotypical thinking through language. These results contribute to understanding the mechanisms that facilitate unprejudiced thinking.
Retrograde diagenesis of clay minerals in the Precambrian Freda Sandstone, Wisconsin

Siltstones from the Precambrian Freda Formation in Wisconsin have been studied by scanning, scanning-transmission and analytical electron microscopy (SEM, STEM and AEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD data for drill core samples show a change from smectite-rich Illite-Smectite (I-S) in shallow samples to illite in deeper samples, implying a transition during burial diagenesis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of shallow samples reveal the presence of three clearly distinguishable kinds of dioctahedral clay minerals: (1) detrital grains of micrometer-sized, mature muscovite; (2) small packets in the matrix consisting of dominant (Reichweite) R1 I-S or (3) small packets of illite. The illite and I-S stacks occur separately and have similar textures, with packet thicknesses averaging approximately 400 Aa, within the range of anchizonal illite. Illite and detrital muscovite commonly display strain features typical of the effects of tectonic stress. Void space within I-S or illite packets is inferred to be a strain feature, and to have served as pathways for fluids. Detrital muscovite shows abundant alteration features including (001) boundaries which are continuous with parallel packets of I-S; individual layers commonly show along-layer transitions of muscovite to smectite or I-S. Trioctahedral clays consist primarily of detrital chlorite which commonly shows direct alteration to R1 I-S and smectite, as with detrital muscovite. Deep samples contain only unaltered, coarse detrital muscovite, and thin packets of illite forming stacks and comprising most of the matrix. The texture of the illite appears to be identical to that of shallow samples, with characteristics such as packet size typical of anchizonal illite. Trioctahedral clays consist almost entirely of detrital grains of chlorite and corrensite. They occur as separate grains with rather constant composition, without signs of alteration. The data imply that all of the studied rocks have been subjected to a uniform anchizonal grade of metamorphism in which detrital grains were largely unchanged but matrix clays were transformed to packets of illite. The unusually abrupt transition with depth from highly expandable I-S to illite is inferred to actually be the result of subsequent alteration of authigenic illite and detrital chlorite and muscovite to R1 I-S and smectite in shallow rocks. This late overprinting of the anchimetamorphic clay mineral assemblage is inferred to have been locally caused by fluids with temperatures less than those of peak metamorphism. This process, called "retrograde diagenesis", gave rise to a sequence of dioctahedral I-S and illite which mimics classic prograde sequences. Interpretations of such sequences as being prograde, especially in cases of ancient rocks, should be interpreted with caution when high-resolution images of textures are not available.
The Customer Friendly Agency: A Historical Institutionalist Investigation of the Federal Aviation Administration

In March and April of 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded several hundred aircraft for a mandatory safety audit after news reports surfaced that several Southwest Airlines aircraft had been operating without inspection certifications for over thirty months. Some charged that FAA oversight of the airlines had become lax because of a 'cozy relationship' between regulator and industry in which the FAA 'coddled the airlines'). Using the historical institutionalism work of Pierson (2004), this paper explores what role has past policy decisions had in shaping the FAA's culture, mission and current policies in the area of maintenance oversight. Using interviews, committee testimony, and agency memos, this paper will investigate this conflicting mission by analyzing two of the FAA's main flight standards programs responsible for ensuring the compliance of airlines in safely maintaining aircraft: The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and the Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program (VDRP). The main argument advanced in this paper is that the mission of the FAA has a built-in conflict of interest to 'encourage and foster the development of civil aeronautics and air commerce' (Poole 1982) while acting as the main regulator for aviation safety that has resulted in a lack of coordination and regulatory oversight within the agency.
The role of phosphate esters in male fertility.

Spermatozoa do not achieve full maturation and fertilizing capacity until passage through the epididymis. During this time they also gain motility, although spermatozoa do not move until after ejaculation. The organic fraction of human seminal plasma contains phosphate esters, particularly glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC), phosphorylcholine (PCh), and inorganic phosphate (P i ). GPC is found in relatively high concentrations in the semen of many male animals, including man. GPC is synthesized by the epithelial cells of the epididymis, apparently under androgenic control. Consequently, it has been suggested that GPC might be a useful indicator of epididymal function. We have measured GPC, P i , and PCh in fresh and frozen semen samples, using phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance ( 31 P NMR). All samples were assayed for phosphate esters. It was found that PCh was totally hydrolized to P i . The average ratio of GPC to total phosphate (TP = GPC + P i ) remained constant at a value of about 0.1 for sperm counts over 20 million/ml. The ratio for azoospermic specimens was 0.02 or less; the same results were obtained from vasectomy specimens. This finding indicates that most of the GPC comes from the epididymis. There was a significant correlation between motility, progression, and the GPC ratio. Poor motility and progression in the specimens were accompanied by low GPC ratios regardless of the sperm counts.
Five dimensions of brand personality traits in sport

Abstract The first purpose of this study was to elaborate upon existing critiques and return to the fundamental brand personality concept by reexamining personality trait theory (i.e., lexical approach) and the sport brand personality literature. Based on a conceptualisation of sport brand personality, the second purpose was to develop an instrument for measuring brand personality in sport based on the restricted definition that excludes non-human personality traits. We adopted the lexical approach in an effort to explore the application of the HEXACO model for obtaining a set of representative personality traits (N = 36) both applicable and relevant to sport brands. For the purpose of this study, a sport brand × subject structure was utilised to find major sport brand personality dimensions. As a representative brand in sport, the National Football League was selected. Two data sets were collected from college students. The 36 sport brand personality traits were submitted to a principal axis factor analysis on the first data set (N = 196). The analysis identified five factors (i.e., Agreeableness, Extraversion/Emotionality, Openness, Conscientiousness, and Honesty) that closely resemble the structure of human personality models. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed that the newly developed five-factor model has an acceptable fit to the second data set (N = 155). This study identified that the lexical approach can provide a conceptual and methodological foundation when developing brand personality instruments.
Taxonomic Status of Peromyscus gossypinus anastasae (Anastasia Island Cotton Mouse)

Four subspecies of cotton mice ( Peromyscus gossypinus ) were examined to assess the taxonomic validity and affinities of the mice on Cumberland Island, Georgia, and Anastasia Island, Florida, both of which are presently referred to P. g. anastasae. Genetic analysis of 44 loci in 379 mice from 14 populations (six island, eight mainland) and morphometric analysis of 27 characters on 683 mice from 20 populations were performed. Polymorphic loci and heterozygosity per population averaged 40 and 10%, respectively, and there was no reduction of genetic variability on islands. Insular mice tended to be smaller than mainland mice. Every population was genetically or morphologically different from all other populations for at least one character in pairwise comparisons. However, when all populations were examined simultaneously, the pairwise differences were not significant. While each population was statistically distinct, none was unusually distinct, and neither the Cumberland Island nor Anastasia Island populations of P. g. anastasae warrant recognition as separate subspecies.
Predictive modeling and in vivo assessment of cerebral blood flow in the management of complex cerebral aneurysms.

Cerebral aneurysms are weakened blood vessel dilatations that can result in spontaneous, devastating hemorrhage events. Aneurysm treatment aims to reduce hemorrhage events, and strategies for complex aneurysms often require surgical bypass or endovascular stenting for blood flow diversion. Interventions that divert blood flow from their normal circulation patterns have the potential to result in unintentional ischemia. Recent developments in computational modeling and in vivo assessment of hemodynamics for cerebral aneurysm treatment have entered into clinical practice. Herein, we review how these techniques are currently utilized to improve risk stratification and treatment planning.
What Really Makes a Promotional Campaign Succeed on a Crowdfunding Platform?: Guilt, Utilitarian Products, Emotional Messaging, And Fewer But Meaningful Rewards Drive Donations

ABSTRACT Online crowdfunding is a popular platform for entrepreneurs to engage consumers by raising funds for creative projects. The purpose of this research was to conceptualize a theoretical framework for crowdfunding appeals and investigate the relationship effect of appeal modes, product, and message characteristics as well as presentation characteristics on donation levels. A stratified random sample of 200 campaigns on Kickstarter.com was analyzed in a regression-based study. Guilt appeals, utilitarian product types, an emotional message frame, and reward tiers were significantly—and positively—related to funding level, measured as a percentage of the funding goals. Entrepreneurs further can use this framework to develop crowdfunding campaigns that can serve as effective marketing tools.
The pre-May 1968 sexual revolution.

L'A. montre que la revolution sexuelle attribuee a Mai 68 etait deja largement amorcee avant les evenements. Pour ce faire, il examine les conditions de la mixite dans les residences universitaires de Nanterre et d'Antony durant les annees qui precederent 1968