cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Agile beam steering using binary optics microlens arrays

Agile steering of a helium-neon laser beam (X = 632.8 nm) has been demonstrated using a complementary pair of 5-cm-aperture binary optic microlens arrays in the Galilean telescope geometry. Segmentation of a collimated input beam by illuminating approximately 60,000 /5 microlenses of 200-jim diameter and parabolic phase profile results in nearly aberration free beam steering over an 1 1° field of view for 100- pm lateral displacements of one array relative to the other. Wavefront quality and steering efficiency of the deflected beam has been measured as a function of steering angle and is compared to a simple theoretical model.
Human resources in the future: An obstacle or a champion of globalization?

Excerpt] There seems to be a wide ranging agreement among HR scholars and practitioners alike that HR in the Future will be increasingly global. Virtually no firms, large or small, irrespective of industries, are today shielded from the impact of globalization. Competitive threats and, in particular, opportunities are more and more global. The ever expanding scope of global competition is forcing a continuous reexamination of how Human Resources can best support the rapid pace of business globalization.
Simplified CO2 plume dynamics for a Certification Framework for geologic sequestration projects

Abstract A framework for certifying and decommissioning CO 2 geologic sequestration sites is a critical requirement for large-scale deployment of CO 2 sequestration in brine formations. The certification process should account for the sequestration efficiency of a given volume of a saline aquifer. The sequestration efficiency is determined by maximizing CO 2 trapping while minimizing the leakage risk. As part of the development of the Certification Framework, we carried out a large number of compositional simulations to quantify the effect of various reservoir and operating parameters. Porosity, horizontal permeability, permeability anisotropy, formation thickness and dip, pressure, and temperature were systematically varied. Operating parameters such as injection rate, vertical vs. horizontal well and perforation interval were investigated. We then developed several simplified models of CO 2 plume behaviour and verified them against sophisticated reservoir simulations. The simple models captured the following trends: leakage potential increases (1) as the time for the CO 2 plume to reach the top seal of the aquifer decreases; (2) as the lateral distance travelled by the plume increases, and (3) as total mobile CO 2 increases. We studied one risk parameter in detail, the time for the CO 2 plume to reach the aquifer top seal, and showed that it varies systematically with gravity number, defined as the ratio of gravity forces to viscous forces. Likely behaviour of an actual saline aquifer relative to that one risk parameter is easily captured by interpolation within the catalogue of detailed simulations for different reservoir and operational parameters. We illustrate the application of these simplified models to assess risks of leakage for a hypothetical sequestration project in a gas storage reservoir for which extensive characterization is available.
Flavonoid constituents of Hymenoxys scaposa dc. (compositae)

Abstract Four flavonol glycosides, quercetagitrin, patulitrin, patuletin 3- O -rutinoside, and patuletin 3- O -glucoside, were isolated from Hymenoxys sceposa . The latter two compounds are reported here for the first time.
Multiple user context menus for large displays

Nowadays it is not uncommon to have a computer with a large wall-sized display. Such a computer provides a space that is large enough for multiple users to collaborate before the display. However, the current operating systems do not support multiple user collaboration well. For example, they allow only one cursor and only one context menu at one time. In this paper, we propose each user have their own context menu. We propose to use XML to define multiple user context menus and have implemented multiple user context menus on the X Windowing system based on MPX (Multi-Pointer X). To show the usefulness of the multiple user context menus, we have implemented an application named SimplePaint that allows multiple users to use context menus simultaneously during collaborative painting.
Modeling of magnetic properties of Nd-Dy-Fe-B particulate composites with different compacting processes

Abstract Nd–Fe–B hard magnetic materials have been investigated intensively in recent years because of their high coercivities and maximum energy products. In this study we have examined the properties of the quaternary alloy Nd–Dy–Fe–B. Experiments revealed the underlying magnetic properties of these samples and these have been related to a theoretical model of the magnetization process. Samples were prepared in the form of particles either in the free state, in a randomly oriented state or in a field-oriented state obtained from solidification under an external field. Modeling results and microstructure analysis showed that compacting process strongly influenced the final magnetic properties through the change in the coupling coefficient resulting from one- or two-dimensional couplings among the particles which were totally different from those of the same materials in bulk state.
Spatial distribution of damage around faults in the Joe Lott Tuff Member of the Mount Belknap Volcanics, Utah: A mechanical analog for faulting in pyroclastic deposits on Mars

[1] Volcanic ash is thought to comprise a large fraction of the Martian equatorial layered deposits and much new insight into the process of faulting and related fluid flow in these deposits can be gained through the study of analogous terrestrial tuffs. This study identifies a set of fault-related processes that are pertinent to understanding the evolution of fault systems in fine-grained, poorly indurated volcanic ash by investigating exposures of faults in the Miocene-aged Joe Lott Tuff Member of the Mount Belknap Volcanics, Utah. The porosity and granularity of the host rock are found to control the style of localized strain that occurs prior to and contemporaneous with faulting. Deformation bands occur in tuff that was porous and granular at the time of deformation, while fractures formed where the tuff lost its porous and granular nature due to silicic alteration. Non-localized deformation of the host rock is also prominent and occurs through compaction of void space, including crushing of pumice clasts. Significant off-fault damage of the host rock, resembling fault pulverization, is recognized adjacent to one analog fault and may reflect the strain rate dependence of the resulting fault zone architecture. These findings provide important new guidelines for future structural analyses and numerical modeling of faulting and subsurface fluid flow through volcanic ash deposits on Mars.
THE NATURE OF SULFUR MONOXIDE FROM THIIRANE OXIDE: A STEREOCHEMICAL TEST

LBL-12227 0 Preprint MAR 5 Submitted to Israel Journal of Chemistry THE NATURE OF SULFUR MONOXIDE FROM THIIRANE OXIDE: A STEREOCHEMICAL TEST W.G.L. Aalbersberg and K.P.C. Vollhardt February 1981 TWO-WEEK LOAN COPY This is a Library Circulating Copy which may be borrowed for two weeks. For a personal retention copy~ call Tech. Info. Division~ Ext. 6782. Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract W-7405-ENG-48
CD48 Binds to Heparan Sulfate on the Surface of Epithelial Cells

CD48 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily whose cell surface expression is strikingly up-regulated on the surface of Epstein-Barr virus-infected B cells. To date, no ligand for human CD48 has been characterized. In this study, we show that human recombinant CD48 binds to the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate on the surface of human epithelial cells. We have produced a monoclonal antibody (615) against epithelial cell surfaces that blocks this binding and show that it too recognizes heparan sulfate. The specific epitope on heparan sulfate that is recognized by the antibody and is involved in binding is also expressed in vivo on the basolateral surfaces of mucosal epithelium and lamina propria.
Semiclassical description of the shears mechanism and the role of effective interactions

By deriving the angle between the proton and neutron spin vectors ${j}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ and ${j}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ in the shears bands in ${}^{198,199}\mathrm{Pb},$ we present a semiclassical analysis of the $B(M1)$ and $B(E2)$ transition probabilities as a function of the shears angle. This provides a semiempirical confirmation of the shears mechanism proposed by Frauendorf using the tilted-axis-cranking model. In addition, we propose that the rotational-like behavior observed for these bands may arise from a residual proton-neutron interaction.
The noncontinuum crack tip deformation behavior of surface microcracks

The crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) of small surface fatigue cracks (lengths of the grain size) in Al 2219-T851 depends upon the location of a crack relative to the grain boundaries. Both CTOD and crack tip closure stress are greatest when the crack tip is a large distance from the next grain boundary in the direction of crack propagation. Contrary to behavioral trends predicted by continuum fracture mechanics, crack length has no detectable effect on the contribution of plastic deformation to CTOD. It is apparent from these observations that the region of significant plastic deformation is confined by the grain boundaries, resulting in a plastic zone size that is insensitive to crack length and to external load.
Longitudinal profile of extensive air showers

Abstract Air fluorescence experiment directly observes the nitrogen fluorescence light of air shower cascades in the Earth’s atmosphere and is therefore a unique tool to directly study the development of air showers and compare it to various models. In this paper, we fit the longitudinal profile and compare the quality of fit for a Gaussian function in shower age to the well known Gaisser–Hillas function and discuss how to average shower profiles in terms of age for alignment. To determine the χ 2 for profile fitting in the simulation, effects caused by the use of the thinning algorithm have to be taken into account.
Sporadic inclusion body myositis: Counts of different types of abnormal fibers

Invasion of nonnecrotic muscle fibers by cytotoxic T cells, accumulation of congophilic amyloid inclusions in muscle fibers, and fiber necrosis are consistent histologic findings in sporadic inclusion body myositis (IBM). To evaluate the relative significance of these alterations, we quantitatively analyzed the frequency of these abnormalities in 31 electron microscopy proven cases of IBM (20 untreated and 11 immunosuppressed). Nonnecrotic muscle fibers invaded by T cells were severalfold more frequent than fibers displaying the other pathologic alterations. Comparison of muscle samples from treated and untreated patients revealed no significant differences in the respective frequencies of the three species of abnormal fibers. Moreover, there was no correlation of the frequency of any abnormality either with disease duration or length of treatment. The much higher frequency of the invaded than Congo red-positive fibers points to the importance of an immune-mediated mechanism in the disease; but the basic cause of the disease remains undefined.
Parabiosis suggests a humoral factor is involved in X-linked hypophosphatemia in mice

Reduced renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate of unknown etiology is characteristic of X-linked hypophosphatemia in both humans and mice. To test whether a humoral abnormality is involved in the renal effect, parabiosis was performed between Hyp and normal mice at 4 weeks of age. The normal mice joined to Hyp mice showed a progressive diminution of plasma phosphate over the next 3 weeks to approach the level of the Hyp mice. These normal mice had a greater renal phosphate excretion index (urine P/plasma P/urine creatinine) than normal-normal pairs, thus suggesting a reduced renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate. At the same time the expected rises in plasma calcium and plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D did not occur. There was a significant reduction in their femoral mineral content but not in their femoral length or body growth relative to normal-normal pairs. This change in renal handling of phosphate was specific since the urinary losses of potassium and magnesium were not significantly changed. Separation of normal-Hyp pairs 3 or 6 weeks after parabiosis caused the normal mice to achieve normal plasma phosphate levels within 24 h. At 48 h and 7 days after separation these normal mice had plasma phosphate levels higher than normal mice separated from normal-normal pairs. In summary, the data suggest the presence of a phosphaturic factor in the Hyp mice that can cross a parabiotic union into normal mice and induce many of the symptoms of X-linked hypophosphatemia.
Fos and Jun Inhibit Estrogen-Induced Transcription of the Human Progesterone Receptor Gene through an Activator Protein-1 Site

The progesterone receptor (PR) gene is activated by estrogen in normal reproductive tissues and in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Although it is typically thought that estrogen responsiveness is mediated through estrogen response elements (EREs), the human PR gene lacks a palindromic ERE sequence. We have identified an activating protein-1 (AP-1) site at +745 in the human PR gene that bound purified Fos and Jun and formed a complex with Fos/Jun heterodimers present in MCF-7 nuclear extracts. Surprisingly, mutating the +745 AP-1 site in the context of a 1.5-kb region of the PR gene significantly enhanced estrogen receptor (ER) alpha-mediated transactivation, suggesting that the wild-type +745 AP-1 site plays a role in inhibiting PR gene expression in the presence of hormone. In support of this idea, transient transfection assays demonstrated that increasing levels of Fos and Jun repressed transcription of a reporter plasmid containing the +745 AP-1 site. Fos levels were transiently increased, ERalpha levels were decreased, and Jun was dephosphorylated after MCF-7 cells were treated with estrogen. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that Jun was associated with the +745 AP-1 site in the endogenous PR gene in the presence and in the absence of estrogen, but that ERalpha and Fos were only associated with the +745 AP-1 site after estrogen treatment of MCF-7 cells. Our studies suggest that the human PR gene is regulated by multiple transcription factors and that the differential binding of these dynamically regulated trans-acting factors influences gene expression.
The Role of Time‐Dependent Measurements in Elucidating Static Versus Dynamic Quenching Processes

— Fluorescence quenching provides a unique method for assessing the ability of quenching species to approach a fluorophore. The distance scale depends on the mechanism of quenching (e.g. compare Forster energy transfer with the external heavy atom effect and/or electron transfer). If one is dealing with amphiphilic systems or hydrophobic surface/water interfaces then ionic and organic quenchers can be compared. While the general concepts of “static” and “dynamic” quenching are well known and often used to characterize the mechanism of fluorescence quenching, it is this author's experience that for many systems the quenching mechanism is “mixed.” The signature of this situation is when the quenching of the steady-state intensity does not match the quenching of the average fluorescence lifetime. First a few of the standard quenching models are reviewed and then a simple approach to characterize the degree of static quenching is discussed. Finally, it is indicated that careful analysis of the fluorescence decay for the shortest timescale should be undertaken if one wishes to estimate accurately the rate of static quenching and that this may be expected to be particularly demanding in the case of fluorophores with longer lifetimes. Although fluorescence is stressed in the discussion that follows, the same concepts would apply to phosphorescence from triplet states, except for the generally longer timescale encountered.
Changes in facial shape with age: an analysis with three-dimensional imaging

The appearance of the aged face has traditionally been attributed to soft tissue changes with surgical treatments targeting ptosis of skin, SMAS, and fat. However, true facial aging is recognized as a combination of soft tissue and skeletal changes, which continue to be integrated into a model for facial aging. With a greater understanding of these changes, techniques in facial rejuvenation will continue to evolve. Three-dimensional imaging technology was used in this study. Measurements correlating with mid- and lower-face changes were compared for each three-dimensional facial image of 31 mother–daughter matched controls. Each mother image was superimposed on the corresponding daughter, using registration of the upper face to visualize mid-face differences between pairs. Also, measurements of women in four age groups were compared using a one-way ANOVA. The ratios of Po-A:Po-N were significantly greater in daughters in comparison to their mothers (p = 0.0073), with the majority of mother subjects showing a more acute Po-N-A angle (p < 0.042). An investigation between age groups exhibited significant difference between the youngest (18–29) and oldest (60+) groups for Po-A:Po-N length ratio, Po-B:Po-N length ratio, Po-N-A angle, and Po-N-B angle. Differences between the 30–44 and 60+ age groups were also significant for the Po-A:Po-N and Po-B:Po-N length ratios. The results from this study suggest a posterior movement of the mid and lower face with age. This multi-factorial process makes facial rejuvenation more complex than initially perceived, and recognizing it will facilitate better rejuvenation strategies in the future.
Towards an intelligent system for clinical guidance on wheelchair tilt and recline usage

We propose to construct an intelligent system for clinical guidance on how to effectively use power wheelchair tilt and recline functions. The motivations fall into the following two aspects. (1) People with spinal cord injury (SCI) are vulnerable to pressure ulcers. SCI can lead to structural and functional changes below the injury level that may predispose individuals to tissue breakdown. As a result, pressure ulcers can significantly affect the quality of life, including pain, infection, altered body image, and even mortality. (2) Clinically, wheelchair power seat function, i.e., tilt and recline, is recommended for relieving sitting-induced pressures. The goal is to increase skin blood flow for the ischemic soft tissues to avoid irreversible damage. Due to variations in the level and completeness of SCI, the effectiveness of using wheelchair tilt and recline to reduce pressure ulcer risks has considerable room for improvement. Our previous study indicated that the blood flow of people with SCI may respond very differently to wheelchair tilt and recline settings. In this study, we propose to use the artificial neural network (ANN) to predict how wheelchair power seat functions affect blood flow response to seating pressure. This is regression learning because the predicted outputs are numerical values. Besides the challenging nature of regression learning, ANN may suffer from the overfitting problem which, when occurring, leads to poor predictive quality (i.e., cannot generalize). We propose using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to train ANN to mitigate the impact of overfitting so that ANN can make correct predictions on both existing and new data. Experimental results show that the proposed approach is promising to improve ANN's predictive quality for new data.
Treatments for PTSD and Pathological Gambling: What Do Patients Want?

This study explored the treatment preferences of 106 people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pathological gambling (PG), or both. It is the first know study of its type for this comorbidity. Sixteen different treatment types were rated, with a broad array of modalities including manualized psychotherapies, medication, self-help, alternative therapies, coaching, and self-guided treatments (use of books and computerized therapy). A consistent finding was that PTSD treatments were rated more highly than PG treatments, even among those with both disorders. Further, of the sixteen treatment types, the sample expressed numerous preferences for some over others. For example, among PG treatments, self-help was the highest-rated. Among PTSD treatments, psychotherapies were the highest-rated; and individual therapy was rated higher than group therapy. For both PG and PTSD, medications were rated lower than other treatment types. Non-standard treatments (i.e., computerized treatment, books, coaching, family therapy, alternative therapies) were generally rated lower than other types. Discussion includes implications for the design of treatments, as well as methodological limitations.
FDFD Nonconformal Domain Decomposition Method for the Electromagnetic Modeling of Interconnections in Silicon Interposer

This paper proposes an efficient method to model interconnections with through-silicon vias (TSVs) in silicon interposer for 3-D systems. The proposed method uses 3-D finite-difference frequency-domain nonconformal domain decomposition method to model the redistribution layer transmission lines on lossy silicon interposer. Using the nonconformal domain decomposition approach, the interposer can be divided into separate subdomains. Individual subdomains can be discretized independently based on its feature size. Field continuity at interfaces between domains is enforced by introducing Lagrange multiplier and vector basis functions at the interfaces. TSVs are modeled using an integral-equation-based solver, which uses cylindrical modal basis functions. The formulation on incorporating multiport network into nonconformal domain decomposition is presented to include the parasitic effects of TSV arrays into the system matrix. By comparing with 3-D full-wave simulations and commercial solvers, this paper validates the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed modeling approach.
Changes in the International Trade Balance of U.S. Hardwood Products from 1990 to 2013

We examine U.S. exports and imports of hardwood products from 1990 to 2013. These products include logs, lumber, veneer, chips, molding, cooperage, plywood, and flooring. The values of hardwood products exported and imported have fluctuated over the years but have generally increased. More substantial changes have occurred with the countries and regions receiving U.S. exports, as well as with those importing into the United States. The primary region receiving U.S. hardwood log and lumber in 1990 was Western Europe, but today, China is the most important market. East Asia has been the most important source region for U.S. hardwood plywood imports, but the specific sources have shifted from Indonesia and Taiwan in 1990 to China today. The overall balance of U.S. hardwood product trade has remained positive for most of the years examined, with the United States having a comparative advantage in exporting logs and lumber. In contrast, the United States has a comparative disadvantage in hardwood plywood exports.
Surface spiral coil design methodologies for high efficiency, high power, low flux density, large air-gap wireless power transfer systems

It was demonstrated that a surface spiral winding coil has low skin- and proximity effect losses in MHz, high power wireless power transfer systems. However, it was not clearly explained why the surface spiral winding coil is appropriate to use in kW level, low flux density, and safe wireless power transfer systems. Furthermore, research has not focused on the losses of a dielectric substrate of a surface spiral winding coil, even though the dielectric loss can overwhelm the skin- and proximity effect losses at MHz frequencies. In the first part of this paper, the benefits of the surface spiral winding coils for large air-gap, kW level wireless power transfer systems are discussed. In the following section, various sources of the power dissipation in surface spiral coils are identified. The discussion focuses on the dielectric losses in the substrates of surface spiral winding coils. Low-loss substrate design guidelines are proposed using the investigation results. The proposed design guidelines are evaluated by means of FEA simulation.
Loss of neurotransmitter receptors by hyperphenylalaninemia in the HPH‐5 mouse brain

The binding of the muscarinic acetylcholine antagonist quimiclinidylbensilate to its specific receptors was measured by quantitative autoradiography in the brain of the HPH-5 mouse, a phenylalanine hydroxylase-deficient mouse mutant, as a model for human PKU. Three types of response to a hyperphenylalaninemic condition were observed: no effect as in the putamen; a gradual decrease over time such as in several areas of the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus; a transient increase, followed by a decrease, such as in the frontal area of the cerebral cortex. Of particular significance is the effect on the CA1 and CA3 layer of the hippocampus, since this structure has been implicated in the acquisition and storage of long-term memory. Hyperphenylalaninemia leads to a decrease in neuro-transmitter receptor density and, therefore, to a decrease in connectivity, which may form the basis for the mental retardation in this condition.
Simple isolation of functional RNA from woody stems of gymnosperms

Stems of woody conifers contain high levels of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds that complicate the isolation of functional RNA from this highly lignified tissue. These difficulties were overcome by pulverizing the frozen tissue with a stainless-steel mortar and by effectively sequestering interfering phenolic compounds with vinylpyrrolidone polymers, thereby minimizing damage to nucleic acids during extraction. RNases were inhibited by aurintricarboxylic acid, and gelatinous polysaccharides were removed by inclusion of a 10% ethanol precipitation step. RNA was then isolated by precipitation with 33% isopropanol and ultracentrifugation onto a cushion of 5.7 M CsCl. Yields of 10 to 20 μg RNA/g FW were obtained from woody stems of several different gymnosperm species, including grand fir (Abies grandis), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia). The high quality of the RNA obtained was determined by UV-spectrophotometry, denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis, andin-vitro translation, and this material was used to construct cDNA libraries.
Simulation of nanotube separation in field-flow fractionation (FFF) ☆

A Brownian dynamics simulation based on a prolate spheroid particle model has been developed to model the separation of nanotubes in cross flow driven, field-flow fractionation (FFF). The particle motions are governed by stochastic forms of a linear momentum balance with orientation dependent drag and diffusion coefficients, and the Jeffrey equation with rotational diffusion. The simulation shows that nanotube scale particles would be expected to elute by a normal mode mechanism up to aspect ratios of about 1000, based on a particle diameter of 1 nm. Separation of nanotubes of different length is governed by the value of the retention variable for each component in agreement with theory. Elution profiles and average velocity through the device as a function of particle size, and the flow rates in the throughput and cross-flow directions are examined. The simulation shows that clean separations between components of different size is achieved when the ratio of the retention values is greater than 2.
Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of B-Virus Infections in Exposed Persons

Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1 (B virus), enzootic among monkeys of the genus Macaca, causes minimal morbidity in its natural host. In contrast, human B-virus infection presents as rapidly ascending encephalomyelitis with a fatality rate of approximately 70%. This infection remains an uncommon result of macaque-related injuries, although the increase in the use of macaques for research on simian retrovirus infection and hepatitis has expanded the number of opportunities for human exposure. In response to this situation, Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention jointly sponsored a B Virus Working Group to formulate a rational approach to the detection and management of human B-virus infection. The resulting guidelines are presented herein and are based upon information from published cases, unpublished cases managed by working-group members, knowledge of the behavior of herpes simplex virus, and--in the absence of hard data--the collective judgment of the group. Although consensus among the co-authors existed on the major points covered by these guidelines, opinions varied widely regarding specific recommendations.
Fructan synthesis in oat: I. Oligomer accumulation in stems during cold hardening and their in vitro synthesis in a crude enzyme extract.

SUMMARY The accumulation of fructan oligomers in cold hardened oat stems was compared to oligomer synthesis in a crude enzyme extract. Water-soluble carbohydrates were quantified at specified time intervals in three oat cultivars which had been hardened for a total of 5 wk at 2 °C. A crude enzyme extract was prepared from stems of one cultivar hardened for 6 d at 2 °C and incubated at 30 °C with 200 mM sucrose. 1-Kestose was the first oligomer to accumulate in vitro but neokestose rapidly increased after 3 h of incubation and eventually surpassed the level of 1 -kestose. Neokestose and 1-kestose accumulated at similar rates in vivo in the first week of hardening but after 1 week, 1-kestose began to decrease while neokestose remained relatively constant. The same phenomenon was observed in vitro but after only 3 h. 6-Kestose was not observed in vivo or in vitro, except for a trace before hardening began. The first tetramer to increase was 1&6G-kestotetraose but it subsequently decreased and its concentration was surpassed by that of 6G,6-kestotetraose. Similarities and differences between in vivo and in vitro patterns of fructan synthesis are discussed.
Computer Based Training with a Twist: Leveraging Peer-to-Peer Learning to Improve Training Effectiveness

A good training program can increase productivity within an organization. This paper explores characteristics associated with a training program that leverages specific learning paradigms that have been shown to increase retention and transfer of information and increase worker efficiency. One of the most widely reported, although rarely measured, method of learning software is through peers. However, little research has been done on this method and most training programs do not incorporate this element into their training. We propose a training program that will incorporate and facilitate learning from peers in the work setting. This will extend the training program beyond the initial training period or session and could lead to better retention and transfer of the material learned. Further, this may lead to the trainees learning about more advanced features of the software subsequent to the training session itself.
The predictive power of an experimental transportation output index

A monthly output index for the US Transportation sector over January 1979–June 2003 is reported covering air, rail, water, truck, transit and pipeline activities. Separate indexes for freight and passenger are also constructed. The strong cyclical movements observed in the transportation output appear to be well synchronized with the NBER-defined recessions and growth slowdowns of the US economy. The series reflects the profound impact of 9/11 on the transportation sector, especially on the airlines. By December 2002 it has reached its historical peak. Given the observed relationship of the transportation output with the economy, the recent upward trend in the freight transportation strongly suggests that both the sector and the overall economy have recovered from their latest slump.
Developing Elementary Teachers’ Understandings of Hedges and Personal Pronouns in Inquiry-Based Science Classroom Discourse

This study examined the effectiveness of introducing elementary teachers to the scholarly literature on personal pronouns and hedges in classroom discourse, a professional development strategy adopted during a summer institute to enhance teachers’ social understanding (i.e., their understanding of the social functions of language in science discussions). Teachers became aware of how hedges can be employed to remain neutral toward students’ oral contributions to classroom discussions, invite students to share their opinions and articulate their own ideas, and motivate students to inquire. Teachers recognized that the combined use of I and you can render their feedback authoritative, you can shift the focus from the investigation to students’ competence, and we can lead to authority loss. It is argued that explicitness, reflectivity, and contextualization are essential features of professional development programs aimed at improving teachers’ understandings of the social dimension of inquiry-based science classrooms and preparing teachers to engage in inquiry-based teacher–student interactions.
Effect of long-term corn by-product feeding on beef quality, strip loin fatty acid profiles, and shelf life

The objective of this study was to evaluate the meat quality and shelf life of steaks from steers fed dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) or dried corn gluten feed (CGF) compared with soybean meal with corn (SBM) as a protein supplement from weaning to slaughter. Angus cross steers (n = 81; BW = 306 ± 26.1 kg) were randomly assigned to pens (n = 9) and fed a stocker diet of corn silage (75% of DM) with DDGS, CGF, or SBM and ground ear corn. After 84 d of stockering, 12 steers (BW = 397 ± 15.3 kg) were randomly selected from each treatment and finished using the same protein supplement at 25% of DM for 100 d. Carcass data were collected (24 h) and the longissimus lumborum was fabricated into steaks at 48 h postmortem. Steaks were assigned to proximate analysis, Warner-Bratzler shear force (7-, 14-, or 21-d aging), and retail display (1, 3, 6, or 9 d). Protein source did not affect carcass yield, quality, or longissimus lumborum composition (P > 0.05). After 7 d of aging, DDGS and CGF steaks were more tender (P 0.05) among diets except SBM steaks were more red (P 0.05) the rate of lipid oxidation. Total SFA concentrations were similar (P > 0.05) among treatments; however, total MUFA were less (P < 0.05) and total PUFA concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in DDGS steaks compared with SBM or CGF steaks. These data show that DDGS or CGF can be fed as a protein supplement at 25% DM from weaning until slaughter while maintaining meat quality when compared with steers fed soybean meal as a protein supplement.
Effects of fuelwood collection and timber harvesting on giant panda habitat use

Timber harvesting and fuelwood collection have dramatically reduced the total amount of forestland around the world, including in China. To understand how timber harvesting and fuelwood collection activities affect use by wildlife, we examined giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) use within Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, southwest China. We evaluated giant panda use of habitat by observing the presence/absence of panda feces in 913 field plots. Newly harvested areas (0-10 years) had the lowest frequency of feces presence (3%), while unharvested forests had the highest (36%). Feces presence is influ- enced by bamboo cover, overstory and midstory composition, slope, aspect and distance to human activity. Results suggest that timber harvesting and fuelwood collection have important impacts on the use of forested habitats and panda use is reduced for several dec- ades after harvests. However, as the forest regenerates, panda habitat may begin to recover after a period of at least 37 years. This has potential implications for the long-term conser- vation of panda habitats and suggests that if forestland is maintained via the Natural For- est Conservation Program (China's logging ban), habitats that were previously harvested may eventually regenerate and increase the potential for the species long-term survival.
Conceptualizing Policy as Environment Raising Awareness of Practice Implications

Environment has long been a primary concern in nursing, beginning with Nightingale’s attention to the power of the environment to heal. Policy is a dimension of the practice environment with great potential to influence patients’ health. In this column, a practice vignette illustrates some of the barriers to nurses’ awareness of policy-as-environment. Characteristics of conceptualizations of environment, arising from nursing science, that have potential to surmount barriers and increase awareness are identified. Creative attention to conceptualizing policy-as-environment is urged as a way to encourage nurses to consider policy activity as a satisfying aspect of practice.
New needle cricothyroidotomy setup

We propose a simple and flexible connection setup for needle cricothyroidotomy. Needle cricothyroidotomy is a life-saving procedure. It is technically easy to perform, but it cannot provide adequate ventilation for a long period of time. The standard recommended ventilation equipment for needle cricothyroidotomy consists of a jet insuflator connected to a source of oxygen with 50 psi pressure. Such a setup is not always available in emergency situations. Alternative setups using ventilation with a bag-valve had been proposed. All of them are either too bulky or rigid, which increase the chance of cricothyroidotomy catheter dislodgment. Connection proposed by us is flexible, readily available, and easy to set up.
Experience-dependent neural plasticity in the adult damaged brain.

Abstract Behavioral experience is at work modifying the structure and function of the brain throughout the lifespan, but it has a particularly dramatic influence after brain injury. This review summarizes recent findings on the role of experience in reorganizing the adult damaged brain, with a focus on findings from rodent stroke models of chronic upper extremity (hand and arm) impairments. A prolonged and widespread process of repair and reorganization of surviving neural circuits is instigated by injury to the adult brain. When experience impacts these same neural circuits, it interacts with degenerative and regenerative cascades to shape neural reorganization and functional outcome. This is evident in the cortical plasticity resulting from compensatory reliance on the “good” forelimb in rats with unilateral sensorimotor cortical infarcts. Behavioral interventions (e.g., rehabilitative training) can drive functionally beneficial neural reorganization in the injured hemisphere. However, experience can have both behaviorally beneficial and detrimental effects. The interactions between experience-dependent and injury-induced neural plasticity are complex, time-dependent, and varied with age and other factors. A better understanding of these interactions is needed to understand how to optimize brain remodeling and functional outcome. Learning outcomes: Readers will be able to describe (a) experience effects that are maladaptive for behavioral outcome after brain damage, (b) manipulations of experience that drive functionally beneficial neural plasticity, and (c) reasons why rehabilitative training effects can be expected to vary with age, training duration and timing.
Reply to D. Serraino et al

We thank Serraino et al for their interest in our publication evaluating the effect of age on breast cancer outcomes in the Herceptin Adjuvant (HERA) trial. In their letter, they express concern that our analysis does not present detailed information on the age distribution of women studied as they wish to know whether our findings are homogeneous across age groups of women over age 40 years. For this important question, we direct them to the STEPP analysis (Fig 3), which presents 3-year disease-free survival for subpopulations defined by age up to the late 60s and reveals that age is neither predictive nor prognostic across the age subpopulations. The numbers of women in the age groups 41 to 50 years, 51 to 60 years, and 60 years and older were 573, 535, and 233 for observation and 593, 512, and 233 for trastuzumab.
The Drosophila homolog of the putative phosphatidylserine receptor functions to inhibit apoptosis

Exposure of phosphatidylserine is a conserved feature of apoptotic cells and is thought to act as a signal for engulfment of the cell corpse. A putative receptor for phosphatidylserine (PSR) was previously identified in mammalian systems. This receptor is proposed to function in engulfment of apoptotic cells, although gene ablation of PSR has resulted in a variety of phenotypes. We examined the role of the predicted Drosophila homolog of PSR (dPSR) in apoptotic cell engulfment and found no obvious role for dPSR in apoptotic cell engulfment by phagocytes in the embryo. In addition, dPSR is localized to the nucleus, inconsistent with a role in apoptotic cell recognition. However, we were surprised to find that overexpression of dPSR protects from apoptosis, while loss of dPSR enhances apoptosis in the developing eye. The increased apoptosis is mediated by the head involution defective ( Wrinkled ) gene product. In addition, our data suggest that dPSR acts through the c-Jun-NH 2 terminal kinase pathway to alter the sensitivity to cell death.
Computing market equilibrium: beyond weak gross substitutes

The property ofWeak Gross Substitutibility (WGS) of goods in a market has been found to be conducive to efficient algorithms for finding equilibria. In this paper, we give a natural definition of a δ-approximate WGS property, and show that the auction algorithm of [GK04][GKV04] can be extended to give an (Ɛ+δ)-approximate equilibrium for markets with this property.
Multi-level alert clustering for intrusion detection sensor data

Alert fusion is a promising research area in information assurance today. To increase trustworthiness in systems, most modern information systems deployed in distributed environments employ multiple, diverse sensors that monitor security violations throughout the network. The outputs of the sensors must be fused in an effective and intelligent manner in order to provide an overall view of the status of such systems. A unified architecture for intelligent alert fusion essentially combines alert prioritization, alert clustering and alert correlation. In this paper, we address the alert clustering aspect of sensor data fusion in an intrusion detection environment. A causal knowledge based inference technique with fuzzy cognitive modeling is used to cluster alerts by discovering structural relationships in sensor data.
Clinical and Immunologic Results of a Randomized Phase II Trial of Vaccination Using Four Melanoma Peptides Either Administered in Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor in Adjuvant or Pulsed on Dendritic Cells

Purpose: To determine clinical and immunologic responses to a multipeptide melanoma vaccine regimen, a randomized phase II trial was performed. Patients and Methods: Twenty-six patients with advanced melanoma were randomly assigned to vaccination with a mixture of four gp100 and tyrosinase peptides restricted by HLA-A1, HLA-A2, and HLA-A3, plus a tetanus helper peptide, either in an emulsion with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and Montanide ISA-51 adjuvant (Seppic Inc, Fairfield, NJ), or pulsed on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). Systemic low-dose interleukin-2 (Chiron, Emeryville, CA) was given to both groups. T-lymphocyte responses were assessed, by interferon gamma ELIspot assay (Chiron, Emeryville, CA), in peripheral-blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and in a lymph node draining a vaccine site (sentinel immunized node [SIN]). Results: In patients vaccinated with GM-CSF in adjuvant, T-cell responses to melanoma peptides were observed in 42% of PBLs and 80% of SINs, but in patie...
Characteristics and predictors of self‐mutilation: a study of incarcerated women

Background Research on self-mutilating behaviour and incarcerated adults has found that nearly 50% of people in prison participated in it (Holley and Alborleda-Florez, 1988). This is an enormous liability for the criminal justice system as well as a human concern. Aims/hypotheses The research question for this study was to explore whether a history of childhood abuse in a sample of incarcerated women would increase their likelihood of self-mutilation. Methods Participants were 256 female inmates from five prisons in a large southern state who volunteered to attend a 12-week trauma and abuse psychosocial intervention group. The participants were evaluated for childhood abuse, criminal history, risk-taking behaviour and self-mutilation. Data are presented regarding individual, criminal, abuse, family and risk-taking behaviours comparing self-mutilators (n = 109) with non-self-mutilators (n = 147). Results The self-mutilation group was more likely to report higher rates of emotional, sexual and physical abuse and on clinical significance scales of anxiety, depression, dissociation, impaired self-reference, anger, tension reduction and intrusive experiences. The self-mutilation group was also younger and was more often Caucasian. The results of the regression model suggest that a history of suicide attempts, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, bingeing and vomiting and impaired self-reference are predictors of self-mutilation. Conclusions/implications for practice Recommendations and implications for practice are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Porphyrins conjugated to DNA as CD reporters of the salt-induced B to Z-DNA transition,

The porphyrin chromophore incorporated at the 5′-position of an oligonucleotide allows the simultaneous detection of the B- to Z-DNA transition via the porphyrin Soret band circular dichroism exciton couplet signal around 420 nm and the oligonucleotide CD region below 300 nm, at micromolar concentrations.
Measurement of Two Deep H Bonding Levels in Device Quality Glow Discharge a-SI:H

We present the results of H effusion studies on device-quality glow discharge deposited hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films. We measure the decrease in the amount of Si-H infrared absorption as pieces of an a-Si:H sample are annealed isothermally at temperatures from 425°C to 500°C, until more than 95% of the initial H is evolved. We use the rate equation for loss of H due to annealing to calculate the activation energy for H effusion. For anneals below 500°C we observe two distinct rate processes, a fast process corresponding to release of ∼ 70% of the total H (∼10 at. %) contained in the sample, and a slower process corresponding to effusion of the remainder. The fast loss process yields an activation energy of ∼1.4 eV; this is the energy level widely observed in diffusion coefficient measurements. A similar analysis for the slow loss process yields an activation energy of ∼2.1 eV and a diffusion constant prefactor higher than that for the fast loss process. We suggest that this slow component represents the first determination of the energy depth of the “isolated” H component commonly observed in nuclear magnetic resonance experiments.