cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Putative stem cells and the lineage of rod photoreceptors in the mature retina of the goldfish.

The retinas of teleost fish grow continuously, in part, by neuronal hyperplasia and when lesioned will regenerate. Within the differentiated retina, the growth-associated hyperplasia results in the generation of new rod photoreceptors only, whereas injury-induced neurogenesis results in the regeneration of all retinal cell types. It is believed, however, that both new rod photoreceptors and regenerated neurons originate from the same populations of intrinsic progenitors. Experiments are described here that attempt to identify in the normal retina of goldfish neuronal progenitors intrinsic to the retina, particularly those which have remained cryptic because they divide infrequently. Long-term, systemic exposure to bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was used to label these cells. Five populations of proliferative cells were labeled: microglia, which are briefly described but not studied further; retinal progenitors in the circumferential germinal zone (CGZ); and rod precursors in the outer nuclear layer (ONL), both of which have been well characterized previously; and two populations of slowly-dividing cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL). The majority of these cells have a fusiform morphology, whereas the remaining ones are spherical. Longitudinal BrdU labeling suggests that the fusiform cells migrate to the ONL to replenish the pool of rod precursors. A subset of the spherical cells express pax6, although none are stained with markers of differentiated amacrine or bipolar cells. It is hypothesized that these rare, pax6-expressing cells are retinal stem cells, which give rise to the pax6-negative fusiform cells. Based on these data, two models are proposed: the first describes the lineage of rod photoreceptors in goldfish; the second is a consensus model of neurogenesis in the retinas of all teleosts.
The design-of-experiment optimization and development of cobaltite ore mineral processing

Laboratory testing, plant optimization, and the interpretation and application of metallurgical technologies can be tedious, time consuming, and costly. This paper outlines the use of proven statistical design-of-experimentation software for rapid laboratory testing and optimization of mineral processing of cobaltite ore with limited representative sample utilization.
Internal carotid artery aneurysms occurring at the origin of fetal variant posterior cerebral arteries: surgical and endovascular experience.

Objective A fetal variant posterior cerebral artery (fetal PCA) is an embryological remnant in which the PCA is primarily supplied via the anterior cerebral circulation. Internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms originating from the takeoff of fetal PCA vessels deserve special attention before surgical or endovascular obliteration because of a greater potential for ischemic injury. We present the first series of ICA-posterior communicating artery (PComA) aneurysms originating at the takeoff of fetal PCA vessels that were treated by surgical or endovascular intervention. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients who underwent surgical and endovascular treatment of an ICA-PComA aneurysm at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center during a 15-year period (1991-2006) to identify cases with aneurysms originating from fetal variant PCAs. Data were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results During a 15-year period, 271 patients were treated for 273 ICA-PComA aneurysms. Aneurysms occurring at the origin of fetal PCAs were identified in 30 patients (11%). There were 23 women (77%) and seven men (23%) (sex difference, P = 0.0035). Twenty-four patients underwent surgical clipping, whereas six patients underwent endovascular coiling. The mean aneurysm size was 7 mm. The mean ischemia time with temporary clipping (12 cases) was 4.5 minutes. Intraoperative rupture occurred in four surgical cases (17%). Postoperative angiography demonstrated occlusion of the fetal PCA in one case after clip ligation (3%), with an ensuing occipital infarct yet no clinical symptoms. Conclusion ICA-PComA aneurysms originating from fetal PCA vessels may pose a more substantial risk for infarction and subsequent neurological sequelae with surgical or endovascular obliteration. Fetal variant circulations were identified at the PComA origin in 11% of ICA-PComA aneurysm patients and were more commonly encountered in women. The decision of surgical versus endovascular treatment of fetal PCA aneurysms must be carefully considered, given the greater potential for ischemic injury with parent vessel occlusion.
Low-temperature properties of fcc Al from modified Debye theory

The value of the lattice parameter of fcc Al at low temperatures, a(T), is shown to be accurately determined by the Debye theory of lattice vibrations and first-principles total energy band calculations. The Debye theory uses the well-known generalization to direction-dependent elastic mode frequencies and is further modified by introducing a parameter βz, which gives the fraction of the full Debye zero-point energy that is possessed by the actual dispersive mode frequencies. The calculation of a(T) is simplified by minimizing the Gibbs free energy of the vibrating lattice rather than the usual procedure of minimizing the total energy at constant volume. The parameter βz is shown to affect the value of a(T), but comparison of a(T) with experiment is not able to evaluate βz because of the inherent inaccuracy of the band calculations (the GGA value is 0.7% high, and the LSDA value is 1.2% low for a(T)). By using experimental values of a(T) and elastic constants cij(T),ij = 11, 12, 44 and modified Debye theory, βz is evaluated as 0.48 without band calculations. From βz the rigid lattice of a is shown to be 4.01 A, midway between the GGA and LSDA values.
Virtual offices: understanding and managing what you cannot see

To achieve their business objectives, many companies are exploring varying degrees of virtuality or remote working (away from the office location), facilitated by technology. Managers have to decide when, where, and for whom such virtuality is appropriate to ensure that rewards are maximized for the staff and for the organization. This paper explores the challenges for managers in establishing virtual offices or teams. It suggests that successful virtual offices require more than just technology. They require radical new approaches to evaluating, educating, organizing and informing workers. The real challenge in maximizing the virtual experience lies in designing the organization structure and processes to achieve agreed goals.
Simulating Migration Mortality of Atlantic Salmon Smolts in the Merrimack River

Abstract Successful restoration of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar to New England rivers involves the identification and management of mortality sources at different life history stages. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mortality during migration on Atlantic salmon smolts exiting the Merrimack River. Our objective was to review data pertaining to smolt production, migration, passage at hydroelectric facilities, and predation in the Merrimack River and construct a simulation model of smolt migration. We constructed a migration model incorporating river-flow-based decision rules affecting migration rate, delay at dams, dam passage mortality, and migration mortality. Mean model estimates of in-river survival ranged from 0.7% to 23.5%. Estimated transit times generally increased in migration scenarios in which smolts began migration later in the season; beginning migration later in the season also resulted in lower in-river survival. The model was evaluated by comparing records of returns o...
Effect of Immigrant Nurses on Labor Market Outcomes of US Nurses

We study the effect of immigration of foreign-trained, registered nurses (RNs) on the employment and wages of US-trained RNs. We use the "area" approach and study effects of immigration in labor markets defined by the state. We find substantial evidence that immigration by foreign-trained nurses increases the supply of nurses and that this increase in supply is associated with a decrease in annual earnings. Estimates suggest that a 10 percent increase in supply due to immigration is associated with a one to four percent decrease in annual earnings.
Second-harmonic generation and photoemission from silver.

We have observed photoemission induced by second-harmonic photons from a ${\mathrm{NH}}_{3}$-covered Ag film in the attenuated-total-reflection configuration. The photoyield increases as the square of the laser intensity. The dispersion relation for the photoemission is identical with that for the surface-plasmon-polariton. The angular variations of the reflectance and of the photoyield are accurately described by standard Fresnel optics when dielectric constants close to those found in the literature and a reasonable value of the electron escape length are used. Photons from a pulsed dye laser with energies in the range 1.8\char21{}2.6 eV were used. Measurements of the reflectance and photoyield were made simultaneously.
Seizures in the elderly: Video/EEG monitoring analysis.

Abstract Objective Recently there has been a remarkable increase in the number of elderly people with epilepsy due to the growing size of this segment of the population. The literature provides little information on the characteristics of epileptic and nonepileptic events in the elderly. Therefore we report the results of video/EEG recordings in patients aged 60 or older admitted over 2 consecutive years to an epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). Methods We examined the records of all elderly patients admitted to our EMU between December 1999 and December 2001. Fifty-eight patients were older than 60, constituting 17% of the total admissions to the EMU. All patients underwent continuous video/EEG monitoring. On the basis of reasons for admission, video/EEG reports were categorized into (1) diagnosis of events, (2) characterization and localization of seizures, (3) adjustment of medication, and (4) status epilepticus (nonconvulsive). Results There were 26 women between the ages of 60 and 91 and 32 men between the ages of 60 and 84. The main reasons for admission were diagnosis of events (57% of patients), followed by characterization and localization of events (36% of patients). There were 6 patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES); 5 were women and 4 of them were >70 years of age. All PNES patients presented with motor symptoms, except for an 87-year-old man who presented with abdominal spasm. Two of these six patients were suspected of having PNES before admission. Two patients were admitted with suspicion of status epilepticus, but neither proved to have status epilepticus. The most frequent diagnosis was physiologic nonepileptic seizures (26 patients; 45%), and 27% of these patients were on antiepileptic drugs, which were discontinued after the diagnosis of nonepileptic seizures. Complex partial seizure was the most frequent seizure type, occurring in 23 patients, 6 of whom (27%) had both complex partial seizures and secondarily generalized seizures. Conclusion In the elderly, video/EEG results in a definitive diagnosis in the majority of cases and can assist in the decision whether antiepileptic drugs are necessary. PNES can occur in the elderly, and video/EEG monitoring can facilitate their recognition and management.
Causes of Shifts in Occupational Segregation of the Foreign-Born: Evidence from American Cities, 1870–1880

T7his article applies arguments about the dynamics of competition in an ethnic and racial job queue to an analysis of causes of changes in occupational segregation in late 19th century America. The evidence lends credibility to the hypothesis that the presence of lower-status blacks enabled some white ethnics to move up the job queue and out of segregated occupations. The findings are that cities that had initially large and growing numbers of blacks had decreasing occupational segregation for foreigners, while those with growing numbers of foreigners had increasing levels. Where there were a relatively larger number of illiterate blacks, levels of segregation for the foreign-born decreased, but the numbers of foreign-born who were illiterate did not affect occupational segregation for this group. Research on the late 19th and early 20th century finds that the structure of opportunity for blacks in the United States deteriorated sharply just as occupational mobility for white immigrants improved.' We know little about the mechanisms that produced these paths of opportunity, despite the fact that they undoubtedly have consequences for today's gaps in occupational attainment between blacks and whites (Farley 1984). In order to explore these issues, this article analyzes data on changes in levels of occupational segregation of the foreign-born population in cities in the late 19th century.
Association of elevated radiation dose with mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Abstract Objectives This study sought to identify clinical and procedural predictors of elevated radiation dose received by patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and to determine if elevated radiation dose was predictive of mortality in this population. Background Little data exist regarding the impact of excessive radiation burden on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI. Methods The study population included 1,039 patients who underwent PCI for an AMI between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008 at an academic tertiary care teaching hospital. Cumulative skin dose (measured in milligray [mGy]) was selected as a measurement of patient radiation burden. Clinical and procedural variables were analyzed in multiple logistic and linear regression models to determine predictors of higher skin dose, and its impact was evaluated on all-cause intermediate-term mortality at two years. Results Median skin dose was 2120 mGy (IQR 1379–3190 mGy) in the overall population, of which 153 (20.8%) patients received an elevated skin dose (defined as a skin dose > 4,000 mGy). Independent predictors of elevated skin dose included male gender, obesity, multivessel intervention, and presentation with a non-ST-elevation MI (NSTEMI) versus an ST-elevation MI (STEMI). Increased skin dose was not predictive of intermediate-term mortality by multivariate analysis in the overall population or in either subgroup of STEMI and NSTEMI. Conclusions In this contemporary observational study examining patients with AMI undergoing PCI, male gender, obesity, multivessel intervention, and presentation with a NSTEMI were associated with increased radiation exposure.
Metabolic syndrome: Is immunosuppression to blame?

Key Points 1. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is common after liver transplantation and has been associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular death, liver-related death, and overall mortality. 2. Immunosuppression may increase the frequency of hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension and thus increase the risk and prevalence of MS after transplantation. 3. Corticosteroids are associated with increased rates of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia in the short term. These agents are now being used perhaps less frequently and certainly for shorter durations; therefore, the long-term effects on metabolic morbidities may be reduced. 4. Calcineurin inhibitors and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors affect many MS parameters to various degrees and contribute to long-term morbidity after transplantation. Liver Transpl, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
Simulated Annealing based weight assignment scheme for Load Balanced fast IP local failure recovery

Network failures often cause service interruptions as well as packet losses. To mitigate the impact of failures, many IP fast local recovery schemes have been proposed to reroute traffic in the event of failure in past literatures. However, the rerouted traffic may cause congestion or overload on pre-computed backup routes if the link capacity on those backup routes is not considered in recovery schemes. In this paper, we propose a Simulated Annealing based Load Balanced (SALB) fast IP local protection scheme to construct backup routing tables for protecting link failures. In the proposed SALB scheme, we jointly consider protection switching time, network survivability, and traffic load distribution. The proposed SALB scheme is capable of mitigating other kinds of failures, such as node failures or SRLG failures. In the proposed scheme, upon a failure, only the nodes adjacent to a failure are activated to divert affected traffic to backup paths. This local reaction process guarantees fast protection switching and reduces failure recovery time. Besides, we formulate this problem as a mixed integer programming problem, in which the working traffic load on the most congested link is to be minimized while protecting link failures. Numerical results delineate that the proposed scheme achieves high survivability and load balancing at the expense of slightly increasing the average path hop count and the entries of backup routing table.
Exercise modulation of growth hormone isoforms: current knowledge and future directions for the exercise endocrinologist

Importance of growth hormone molecular heterogeneity as a partial mechanism for somatogenic adaptations to physical activity Growth hormone (GH) exhibits a great deal of molecular heterogeneity (there are over 100 isoforms in circulation) and we are only beginning to understand how exercise influences concentrations of GH isoforms. As the field of exercise endocrinology moves forward in the 21st century, greater recognition will be given to molecular heterogeneity that exists for many protein hormones within the paradigm of exercise and physical activity. Specifically, it is well established, but not well recognised, that GH exhibits a great deal of molecular heterogeneity, as over 100 molecular isoforms are thought to exist in the circulation. The importance of gaining a greater understanding of the exercise-mediated influences on GH molecular heterogeneity resides in the fact that the GH isoforms have diverse downstream metabolic and anabolic actions in target tissues. The human GH-N gene expresses the main pituitary molecular mass variant in the GH family, which is the 22 kDa form. Monomeric 22 kDa GH is a 191 amino acid sequence and represents ∼21% of all circulating plasma GH. The next most prevalent form is the monomeric 20 kDa molecule, representing ∼6% of all circulating plasma GH, formed through alternative mRNA splicing during which amino acid residues 32–46 are cleaved out. GH can also undergo post-translational modification and peripheral tissue proteolytic cleavage at its site of action to form variants and aggregates (ie, dimers, trimers, pentamers, oligomers) and fragments that exist in the circulation. The existence of high-affinity and low-affinity GH-binding proteins, which are released from the pituitary and/or cleaved from the extracellular domain of the GH receptor, adds further complexity to the nature and spatial arrangement of circulating GH moieties. GH should no longer be regarded as a single hormone, but rather as a …
Application of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative to Neonatal Care: Suggestions by Swedish Mothers of Very Preterm Infants

The aim of this study was to obtain suggestions from mothers of very preterm infants regarding modification of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Thirteen mothers were interviewed 2 to 6 months after their infants' discharge from the hospital. The interviews generated 13 steps, which partly agree with the BFHI steps. The new steps address respect for mothers' individual decisions about breastfeeding, education of staff in specific knowledge and skills, antenatal information about lactation in the event of preterm birth, skin-to-skin (kangaroo mother) care, breast milk expression, early introduction of breastfeeding, facilitation of mothers' 24-hour presence in the hospital, preference for mother's own milk, semi-demand feeding before transition to demand breastfeeding, special benefits of pacifier sucking, alternative strategies for reduction of supplementation, use of bottle-feeding when indicated, a family-centered and supportive physical environment, support of the father's presence, and early transfer of infants' care to parents.
Renal and hepatic tumors in the neonatal period

Renal and hepatic tumors in neonates are extremely rare. Nevertheless it is important for clinicians to be familiar with them. Both renal and hepatic neonatal tumors are heterogeneous collections of several tumor types. Some renal and hepatic tumors are benign and may require no interventions whereas others can be associated with significant morbidity and even mortality and may require multimodality treatment. Early diagnosis and initiation of the proper treatment plan is crucial for achieving the best outcomes for these rare tumors in this vulnerable population.
Mathematical models for the all-or-none activity of some neurons

Measurements of the statistical properties of spike trains from single neurons are used to suggest a mathematical model based on a random walk toward an absorbing barrier. A wide range of neuronal activity can be described in terms of two parameters which can be associated with known physiological mechanisms.
Invasion of Exotic Plant Species in Tallgrass Prairie Fragments

The tallgrass prairie is one of the most severely affected ecosystems in North America. As a result of extensive conversion to agriculture during the last century, as little as 1% of the original tallgrass prairie re- mains. The remaining fragments of tallgrass prairie communities have conservation significance, but ques- tions remain about their viability and importance to conservation. We investigated the effects of fragment size, native plant species diversity, and location on invasion by exotic plant species at 25 tallgrass prairie sites in central North America at various geographic scales. We used exotic species richness and relative cover as measures of invasion. Exotic species richness and cover were not related to area for all sites considered to- gether. There were no significant relationships between native species richness and exotic species richness at the cluster and regional scale or for all sites considered together. At the local scale, exotic species richness was positively related to native species richness at four sites and negatively related at one. The 10 most frequently occurring and abundant exotic plant species in the prairie fragments were cool-season, or C 3, species, in con- trast to the native plant community, which was dominated by warm-season, or C 4, species. This suggests that timing is important to the success of exotic species in the tallgrass prairie. Our study indicates that some small fragments of tallgrass prairie are relatively intact and should not be overlooked as long-term refuges for prai- rie species, sources of genetic variability, and material for restoration .
Antibiotics Against Plant Disease: VIII. Screening for Nonpolyenic Antifungal Antibiotics Produced by Streptomycetes

In a survey of Streptomyces species, methods were designed and followed that would specifically select strains capable of producing heat-stable, nonpolyenic, antifungal antibiotics. Of 500 strains grown in shaken flasks, 240 of the culture liquors contained active factors as demonstrated by paper-disc assay against Mucor ramannianus. Culture filtrates and mycelial extracts of the active strains were examined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry; 166 were nonpolyenic as determined by absorption spectra. Heat-stability tests of the nonpolyenic antibiotics over a broad pH range revealed that 15 were stable under all test conditions, 70 moderately stable, and 81 unstable. Culture liquors containing stable, nonpolyenic antifungal agents were chromatographed with eight solvent systems in an attempt to identify the antibiotics. The producing cultures were studied by cross-antagonism tests to discover similarities with producers of known antibacterial antibiotics. Two of the antibiotics produced by promising strains were identified as cycloheximide and musarin. Six antibiotics, presumably new, were detected.
Distributions of Beneficial Fitness Effects in RNA

Beneficial mutations are the driving force of evolution by natural selection. Yet, relatively little is known about the distribution of the fitness effects of beneficial mutations in populations. Recent work of Gillespie and Orr suggested some of the first generalizations for the distributions of beneficial fitness effects and, surprisingly, they depend only weakly on biological details. In particular, the theory suggests that beneficial mutations obey an exponential distribution of fitness effects, with the same exponential parameter across different regions of genotype space, provided only that few possible beneficial mutations are available to that genotype. Here we tested this hypothesis with a quasi-empirical model of RNA evolution in which fitness is based on the secondary structures of molecules and their thermodynamic stabilities. The fitnesses of randomly selected genotypes appeared to follow a Gumbel-type distribution and thus conform to a basic assumption of adaptation theory. However, the observed distributions of beneficial fitness effects conflict with specific predictions of the theory. In particular, the distributions of beneficial fitness effects appeared exponential only when the vast majority of small-effect beneficial mutations were ignored. Additionally, the distribution of beneficial fitness effects varied with the fitness of the parent genotype. We believe that correlation of the fitness values among similar genotypes is likely the cause of the departure from the predictions of recent adaptation theory. Although in conflict with the current theory, these results suggest that more complex statistical generalizations about beneficial mutations may be possible.
Integration of mapped RNA-Seq reads into automatic training of eukaryotic gene finding algorithm

We present a new approach to automatic training of a eukaryotic ab initio gene finding algorithm. With the advent of Next-Generation Sequencing, automatic training has become paramount, allowing genome annotation pipelines to keep pace with the speed of genome sequencing. Earlier we developed GeneMark-ES, currently the only gene finding algorithm for eukaryotic genomes that performs automatic training in unsupervised ab initio mode. The new algorithm, GeneMark-ET augments GeneMark-ES with a novel method that integrates RNA-Seq read alignments into the self-training procedure. Use of ‘assembled’ RNA-Seq transcripts is far from trivial; significant error rate of assembly was revealed in recent assessments. We demonstrated in computational experiments that the proposed method of incorporation of ‘unassembled’ RNA-Seq reads improves the accuracy of gene prediction; particularly, for the 1.3 GB genome of Aedes aegypti the mean value of prediction Sensitivity and Specificity at the gene level increased over GeneMark-ES by 24.5%. In the current surge of genomic data when the need for accurate sequence annotation is higher than ever, GeneMark-ET will be a valuable addition to the narrow arsenal of automatic gene prediction tools.
NtrBC and Nac Contribute to Efficient Shigella flexneri Intracellular Replication

ABSTRACT Shigella flexneri two-component regulatory systems (TCRS) are responsible for sensing changes in environmental conditions and regulating gene expression accordingly. We examined 12 TCRS that were previously uncharacterized for potential roles in S. flexneri growth within the eukaryotic intracellular environment. We demonstrate that the TCRS EvgSA, NtrBC, and RstBA systems are required for wild-type plaque formation in cultured epithelial cells. The phenotype of the NtrBC mutant depended in part on the Nac transcriptional regulator. Microarray analysis was performed to identify S. flexneri genes differentially regulated by the NtrBC system or Nac in the intracellular environment. This study contributes to our understanding of the transcriptional regulation necessary for Shigella to effectively adapt to the mammalian host cell.
Parasocial interaction with an avatar in second life: A typology of the self and an empirical test of the mediating role of social presence

3D virtual environments (VEs) can induce parasocial interaction (PSI) and strong feelings of social presence through interactive communication among avatars. Throughout this research, PSI was operationally defined as the extent of VE users' interpersonal involvement with other avatars and perception of themselves as interacting with the other virtual actors in the environment. Self-construal refers to an individual's view of self. Self-construals play an important role in shaping PSI in interactive media environments. After proposing a typology of the self, the experiment in this study empirically examined the influence of users' interdependent self-construals on their feelings of social presence and PSI with a recommendation avatar in avatar-based communication within the 3D VE of Second Life (SL). The results revealed that people with high interdependent self-construals experience closer PSI with a recommendation avatar and feel stronger social presence in SL than people with low interdependent self-construals. A path analysis also demonstrated that social presence mediates the effects of users' self-construals on their PSI with a recommendation avatar in VEs.
Design of High-Stiffness Five-Bar and Seven-Bar Linkage Structures by Using the Concept of Orthogonal Paths

This paper presents a new approach for the synthesis of high-stiffness five-bar and seven- bar linkage structures based on the concept of orthogonal paths. The intersection point of two orthogonal paths is the location of a floating joint at which the motion is prevented to the maximum degree. Instead of analyzing link materials, deformations, and joint clearances, the approaches here provide designers with another way to obtain the geometrical configurations of five-bar and seven-bar linkage structures with high stiffness from a kinematic point of view. Two types of linkage structures, five-bar and seven-bar linkages, will be used for high-stiffness synthesis. The complete design procedures are presented for two different cases of each type.
A novel twin-horn feed for multi-beam remote sensing reflector antenna

Multi-beam reflector antennas attract more interest nowadays with the ever increasing requirements of spaceborne applications. In a recently proposed project for spaceborne remote sensing application, a 3.5-m offset parabolic reflector antenna with a novel feed arrangement is designed which optimally satisfies some specific requirements. It features two sets of feeds located in the focal plane to generate two scanning beams. Since the antenna is required to spin at high speed with an orbit altitude of 800 kilometers, the twin-horn structure is employed to better receive remote sensing signals reflected back from the earth surface. Each twin-horn feed consists of two closely positioned corrugated horns to transmit and receive signals, respectively. To address the demanding requirement on beam separation of the twin-horn feed, the integrated twin-horn structure is utilized, and its parameters are properly adjusted to provide the desired feed taper. The twin-horn feed is simulated, fabricated, and measured, and the simulation and measurement results agree very well. The far-field pattern of the reflector antenna illuminated by the measured twin-horn feed pattern is also obtained, and the simulation results match well with the design goals.
On the outage probability of a class of signaling schemes for multiple antennas

The concept of outage probability is appropriate for delay-constrained transmission over quasi-static channels since it serves as a useful lower bound for the frame error probability. In this work, we characterize a rich class of schemes, each member of which exhibits an identical asymptotic (in SNR) outage probability decay, given by maximum spatial diversity available in the system. The class includes several commonly used spatial power allocation and beamforming schemes, derived for varying amount of channel information at the transmitter and the receiver.
“SCIENCE” AND THE FUNDING OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Misunderstanding of phenomenology and positivism as perspectives upon the philosophy and practice of science has important implications for the future of geographic research and research funding in America. Positivistic perspectives on the philosophy of science appear to be seen as fundable, whereas the scientific status and the possibilities for funding of phenomenological and other perspectives on the philosophy of science seem to be in question.
New constructions on broadcast encryption key pre-distribution schemes

This paper presents various new techniques on secure group communication schemes. We present a new broadcast encryption scheme RBE, being particularly efficient in multiple revocation, and a node-based key pre-distribution scheme, remedying the key overlapping problem of pool-based schemes. Starting with a detailed analysis on broadcast encryption and group key distribution schemes, we discuss the influence of join as well as the feasibility of including it in broadcast encryption schemes by means of performing full updating or overprovisioning.
Executive support in an open loop control environment

Discusses the design of executive support systems in an organizational environment based upon open loop control as opposed to closed loop control. This change in view supports a faster response to changes in the external environment but it requires that the executive process must increase its issue scanning and tracking activities. This research is based on the descriptive literature of executive tasks, management control, and successful strategic decision processes. It is also based on the normative literature of automatic control systems. These two sources are synthesized to provide some characteristics of an executive support systems described using an entity-relationship diagram and a data flow diagram. The author argues that the key characteristics of this support are that the data should be issue-oriented and the processes should be learning-oriented. >
Karaoke for social and cultural change

This account demonstrates the key challenges faced in producing engaging educational content for information and communication technologies (ICT) deployed in rural India. The ‘Stills in Sync’ (SIS) project aims to enhance literacy through the revival and proliferation of popular regional folksongs with social awareness themes in rural India. This product entails the use of the Same Language Subtitling (SLS) karaoke feature that won the Worldbank Development Marketplace award in 2002 and the ‘Tech Laureate’ honor from the Technology Museum of Innovation in 2003. This case study highlights the struggles faced in the production process as we sought to negotiate localism with scalability. The paper is meant to stimulate discussion and further research on the process of digitalizing cultural and educational content in muliple languages for literacy gains and empowerment. I attempt to give three‐dimensionality to current buzzwords in education content creation using ICT: localism, relevance and engagement.
A study of e-discussion within a domain of uncertainty: the case of Tourette's Syndrome

The growing popularity of the internet has made it easier and faster to find health information on rare and poorly understood disease topics. Much of this information is valuable, though the internet also allows the rapid and widespread distribution of false and misleading information, especially through peer-based networks. Providers frequently advise that it is important for health consumers to carefully consider the source of lay information and to discuss the clinical information they find with their health care provider. Beyond clinical indicators and standards, however, there exist few evaluative frameworks for assessing health information, especially within peer-to-peer networks. Employing a grounded theoretical approach, analysis of online, domain-specific interaction examined in this study demonstrates the decision making influences of "virtual support groups" and the related emergence of "cybertherapy" as a peer-based tool for healthcare consumers.
FINE STRUCTURE OF THE GUINEA PIG ADRENAL CORTEX.

The adrenal cortex of the male guinea pig has been examined with the electron microscope. Many of the cells of the zone glomerulosa possessed bizarreshaped nuclei with frequent cytoplasmic invaginations. The internal structure of the mitochondria was entirely cristaform, the cristae being spaced at reasonably regular intervals. A rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum was present in this zone only. The outer fasciculata showed an abundance of lipid in droplet from. The mitochondrial internal structure of this zone was predominantly cristaform, but the cristae were aggregated in clumps instead of being evenly spaced. Smooth-surfaced cytoplasmic vacuoles were frequent. The inner fasciculate and the reticularis were generally similar. They differed from the above zones in that little lipid was present in droplet form and by the presence of a profusion of smooth-surfaced cytoplasmic vacuoles which were interpreted as being homologous with the agranular endoplasmic reticulum. Mitochondria of the inner fasciculata were irregular in shape, while those of the reticularis were larger and more regular. In all zones of the cortex, the vascular channels were lined with an endothelium separated from the parenchymal cell by a space which was frequently seen to contain fibrils as well as fibroblast-like cells.
Interactions between the Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation and Higher-Frequency Tropical Wave Activity

Abstract Interactions between the convection and circulation fields of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) and two types of higher-frequency tropical wave activity are examined through a statistical analysis of 22 yr of data. During the convectively active phase of the ISO, westward-propagating mixed Rossby–gravity (MRG)–tropical depression (TD)-type wave activity is enhanced within the low-frequency ISO convective envelope, and is strongly correlated with low-frequency 850-hPa westerly anomalies. At the same time, eastward-propagating convectively coupled Kelvin wave activity is enhanced well to the east of the active ISO convection, in the central Pacific. A case study of an ISO event during July–September 1987 illustrates these statistically derived relationships. The enhanced phase of the ISO is shown to consist primarily of westward-propagating higher-frequency variability, including seven named tropical cyclones in the western Pacific, two of which project onto MRG–TD-type modes as the...
Study on adhesion between asphalt binders and aggregate minerals under ambient conditions using particle-modified atomic force microscope probes

Abstract Adhesion between asphalt binders and aggregates is critical to the performance of asphalt mixtures, which have been widely used in pavement systems. In this work, the authors presented an effective approach in quantitative characterizing the adhesion between binders and aggregate mineral particles at the microscopic scale. Attaching to cantilever ends with microspheres of alumina, silica and calcium carbonate, the adhesion between aggregate minerals and binder substrates at ambient conditions was measured directly using atomic force microscopes. In the three groups, it is found that the unit surface energy is largest in the alumina–binder pair and relatively smaller in the calcium carbonate- and silica–binder pairs.
Patients’ perceived utility of whole-genome sequencing for their healthcare: findings from the MedSeq project

Aim: To evaluate patients’ expectations regarding the perceived utility of whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Materials & methods: We used latent class analysis to characterize individuals enrolled in the MedSeq Project based on their perceived utility of WGS. Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between participant characteristics and latent classes. Results: Findings characterized participants into one of three perceived utility groups: enthusiasts, who had a high probability of agreement with all utility items (23%); health conscious, who perceived utility in medically related areas (60%) or skeptics, who had a low probability of agreement with utility items (17%). Trust significantly predicted latent class. Conclusion: Understanding differences in perceived utility of WGS may inform strategies for uptake of this technology.
Digital surveillance in the hypermasculine workplace

New workplace technologies are often met with resistance from workers, particularly to the degree that they challenge traditional workplace norms and practices. These conflicts may be all the more ...
Correlating mechanical properties and anti-wear performance of tribofilms formed by ionic liquids, ZDDP and their combinations

Abstract This article examines the elasticity, hardness, and resistance-to-plastic-deformation (P/S2) measured via nanoindentation of several tribofilms and correlates these properties to friction and wear behavior. The tribofilms were generated by ball-on-plate reciprocating sliding lubricated by a base oil containing an ionic liquid, phosphonium-organophosphate or ammonium-organophosphate, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), or combination of IL and ZDDP. Nanoindentation was conducted at room and elevated temperatures. While there seems little correlation between the tribofilm hardness and tribological behavior, a higher modulus generally leads to better friction and wear performance. Interestingly, a lower P/S2 ratio tends to reduce friction and improve wear protection, which is in an opposite trend as reported for bulk materials. This is likely attributable to the dynamic, self-healing characteristics of tribofilms.
1992 Wage and Vacancy Survey of US Medical Laboratory Positions: Part I

ASCP, in conjunction with Market Opinion Research, Detroit, conducted this survey to determine the national average salaries and job availability of 10 medical laboratory positions. In this article, the first installment of a two-part series, the median beginning and average pay rates are reported for each position. Part II, which will appear in the March issue of Laboratory Medicine, will detail national job availability for each of the 10 positions in various regions of the United States.
Molecular Basis of Breast Cancer Imaging

Over the past decade, annually for women 50 years of age or older, the breast cancer incidence rate in the United States has ranged from 400 to 500 per 100 000 women and the breast cancer mortality rate has ranged from 60 to 80 per 100 000 women. Though there has been a decline in the breast cancer mortality in the past decade it continues to be the second leading cause of death after lung cancer in women over 40 years of age. Breast cancer continues to be a major health issue among women in the United States. Screening mammogram has significantly contributed to the reduction in mortality. However, screening mammogram has its own limitations. Its sensitivity is 80 % in fatty breasts but is substantially lower in dense breasts. On average nearly 30 % of women reporting for mammograms have dense breasts and 1 in 2 cancers in dense breasts are missed on mammograms due to the masking effect caused by overlapping tissues.
Phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride, a specific inactivator of chymotrypsin.

Abstract Phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride inactivated chymotrypsin and trypsin by means of a 1:1 stoicheiometric reaction. Its reaction with chymotrypsin was 29 times as fast as that with trypsin and was inhibited by indole. The reaction of phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride with chymotrypsin resembled an enzyme–substrate reaction in which the deacylation step is rate-limiting. Slow deacylation occurred, resulting in complete regeneration of active enzyme in 15h. The pH–rate profile of the inactivation process had a maximum at pH7.8. These data and other evidence indicate that the reaction of phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride with chymotrypsin exhibits `kinetic specificity'. Therefore any hypothesis that attempts to describe the topography of the active site of chymotrypsin should take into account the reactivity of phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride. The above findings, as well as recent reports of others, are examined within the context of a hypothesis given in an earlier paper (Erlanger, 1967).
Expanded HIV Testing and Linkage to Care: Conventional vs. Point-of-Care Testing and Assignment of Patient Notification and Linkage to Care to an HIV Care Program.

OBJECTIVE The University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) led the Expanded Testing and Linkage to Care (X-TLC) program for disproportionately affected populations on the South Side of Chicago. The X-TLC program aimed to expand routine HIV testing to high-prevalence communities with disproportionately affected populations (i.e., minority men and women, men who have sex with men, and intravenous drug users) according to CDC guidelines at multiple clinical sites. METHODS The X-TLC program used standard blood-based laboratory testing vs. point-of-care rapid testing or rapid laboratory testing with point-of-care results notification. Site coordinators and the linkage-to-care coordinator at UCM oversaw testing, test notification, and linkage to care. RESULTS From February 1, 2011, through December 31, 2013, the X-TLC program completed 75,345 HIV tests on 67,153 unique patients. Of the total tests, 48,044 (63.8%) were performed on patients who self-identified as African American and 6,606 (8.8%) were performed on patients who self-identified as Hispanic. Of the 67,153 patients tested, 395 (0.6%) tested positive and 176 (0.3%) were previously unaware of their HIV-positive status. Seroprevalence was even higher for EDs, where 127 of 12,957 patients tested positive for HIV (1.0% seroprevalence), than for other patient care sites, including for new diagnoses, where 50 of 12,957 patients tested positive for HIV (0.4% seroprevalence). Of the 176 newly diagnosed patients, 166 of 173 (96.0%) patients who were still alive when testing was complete received their test results, and 148 of the 166 patients who were eligible for care (89.0%) were linked to care. Patients linked to X-TLC physicians did well with respect to the continuum of care: 77 of 123 (62.6%) patients achieved HIV viral load of <200 copies/milliliter. CONCLUSION Lead organizations such as UCM were able to assist and oversee HIV screening and linkage to care for HIV patients diagnosed at community sites. HIV screening and linkage to care can be accomplished by incorporating standard testing for HIV into routine medical care.
Oral sodium chlorate, topical disinfection, and younger weaning age reduce Salmonella enterica shedding in pigs.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica can cause swine illness or human foodborne disease. Although nontoxic to mammalian cells, chlorate can be converted to cytotoxic chlorite by salmonellae. To test whether chlorate is effective at reducing Salmonella shedding in weaned pigs exposed to shedding dams, a chlorate-nitrate-lactate (chlorate) oral dose was administered daily for 5 days following weaning, and this treatment was evaluated in combination with two weaning ages and a topical disinfectant. A total of 80 pigs were weaned at 10 or 21 days of age. Half within each age group were topically disinfected at weaning. Piglets were selected from dams for which Salmonella was detected in feces shortly after giving birth. Chlorate treatment reduced Salmonella prevalence and estimated Salmonella concentration in feces, cecal contents, and ileocolic lymph nodes. Younger weaning age (10 days of age) was associated with reduced shedding (lower concentration and prevalence) in samples collected at 10 days postweaning...