cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential Diagnoses Based on the Task-Related Behavior of Learning Disabled and Low-Achieving Adolescents

Observations of 18 learning disabled (LD) and 18 low-achieving adolescents were compared to identify differences which may lead to differential labeling and placement. Multiple measures were used, including observations of task-related behaviors and teacher ratings of specific low-frequency problem behaviors. Observational results indicated that LD and low-achieving populations differed in total on-task behavior with the low-achieving groups demonstrating higher percentages of on-task behavior. Also, the LD group engaged in more passive off-task behavior. Teacher ratings of specific problem behaviors showed no group differences, although some LD students tended to demonstrate disturbed peer relationships. Noted behavioral differences were interpreted as leading to application of the learning disabilities label.
Are there limits to scientists’ obligations to seek and engage dissenters?

Dissent is thought to play a valuable role in science, so that scientific communities ought to create opportunities for receiving critical feedback and take dissenting views seriously. There is concern, however, that some dissent does more harm than good. Dissent on climate change and evolutionary theory, for example, has confused the public, created doubt about existing consensus, derailed public policy, and forced scientists to devote resources to respond. Are there limits to the extent to which scientific communities have obligations to seek and engage dissenting views? We consider the two main criteria that have been offered for what constitutes “normatively appropriate dissent” or the sort of dissent that ought to have the opportunity to be heard and taken seriously. Many have argued that dissenters must (1) engage in uptake of criticism against their own views and (2) share some standards for theory appraisal. We argue these criteria ultimately are unsuccessful.
Challenge studies of a leukotriene receptor antagonist.

The leukotriene receptor antagonist pranlukast (SB 205312, ONO-1078) has demonstrated clinical activity as an antiasthma drug in traditional challenge models, including exercise-induced asthma and inhaled bronchoprevocations with sulpyrine (an aspirin analogue), antigen, methacholine, leukotriene C 4 , and leukotriene D 4 . This article reviews the results of a published sulpyrine-challenge study and two unpublished house dust mite antigen challenge studies. Statistically significant attenuation of the decrease in FEV 1 induced by bronchoprovocation was observed with pranlukast compared with placebo or baseline control in all challenge studies. These challenge studies demonstrate that pranlukast significantly protects against aspirin-induced bronchoconstriction and significantly attenuates both the immediate (early) and late airway responses to inhaled allergen.
Survey of knowledge, beliefs, and practices of neonatal intensive care unit healthcare workers regarding nosocomial infections, central venous catheter care, and hand hygiene.

Objective:To assess the knowledge, beliefs, and practices of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) healthcare workers (HCWs).Design:Self-administered survey.Setting:A 55-bed NICU.Participants:NICU HCWs (N = 215).Results:The response rate was 68%. Ninety-two percent knew central venous catheters (CVCs) should be capped, clamped, or connected to running fluids at all times. Ninety-five percent knew when to change gloves. Thirty-one percent knew the recommended duration for handwashing. Most HCWs believed sterile technique in CVC care (96%), gloves (91%), and handwashing (99%) prevent nosocomial infection (NI). Sixty-seven percent used sterile barriers to insert CVCs, 76% reported wearing gloves, 81% reported routine handwashing, 35% knew that bacterial hand counts are higher with rings, 30% knew that long fingernails are associated with higher gram-negative bacterial hand contamination, and 35% knew that artificial fingernails are associated with higher gram-negative bacterial hand contamination. Most (93%) believed HCWs can affect outcomes of patients with NIs. Fewer believed rings (40%), artificial fingernails (61%), and long fingernails (48%) play a role in NIs, or that policies concerning number of rings (50%), cutting fingernails (35%), or prohibiting artificial fingernails (47%) would prevent NIs. Sixty-one percent of HCWs regularly wore at least one ring to work, 56% wore their fingernails shorter than the fingertip, and 8% wore artificial fingernails.Conclusions:A disconnect existed between CVC knowledge and beliefs and practice. HCWs did not know the relationship between bacterial hand counts and rings and fingernails, and did not believe rings or long or artificial fingernails increased the risk of NIs.
Cluster beams from passivated nanocrystals

Stable, intense beams of large metal clusters (from 102 to 103 Au or Ag atoms) can be produced by laser desorption of molecular films of passivated nanocrystals that have undergone fractionation by size and a separate structural characterization. The mass onset of the desorbed species corresponds directly to the dimensions of the nanocrystal core, indicating that only the surfactant shell is lost during desorption. Photofragmentation, photoionization, and photodetachment from beams of large metal clusters, generated in this way, have all been observed.
Low vitamin D in candidates for bariatric surgery: are the Americans better off than the French?

We read with interest the article by Dr. Ducloux and colleagues in which the authors demonstrate that 96% of patients presenting for bariatric surgery in France are vitamin D deficient [1]. We recently conducted a study in 340 morbidly obese patients presenting for bariatric surgery at the Center of Minimally Invasive Surgery at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York. Only 65% of the NY patients were vitamin D deficient using the same cutoff point of 50 nmol/L, and their mean vitamin D level was substantially higher compared to that of patients in France (47±26 nmol/L versus 31±13 nmol/L). The NY patients were ethnically diverse with 43% Hispanics, 30% African–Americans, and 27% Caucasians. In contrast with Ducloux et al., we found differences in vitamin D levels between ethnic groups (P<0.001, ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc tests). African–Americans had lower levels of vitamin D (39±17 nmol/L) than both Caucasians (55±25 nmol/L, P<0.001) and Hispanics (49±30 nmol/L, P=0.006). In addition, vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with BMI (P=0.017, r=–0.130) and strongly associated with ethnicity. Only 24% of African–Americans presenting for bariatric surgery had vitamin D levels≥50 nmol/L, versus 34% of Hispanics and 48% of Caucasians (P<0.001 by the chi-square test). In Ducloux's patients, the absence of associations between ethnicity, BMI, and vitamin D levels may be due to the small number of patients studied (n=50). One can only speculate why the vitamin D levels are substantially lower in the Parisian French than in American patients [2]. Sun exposure may have been different between the two independently studied cohorts; however, this was found not to be an important factor in Ducloux's and Goldner's studies. Intake of vitamin D is known to be lower in Europe compared to North America, in part the result of American food supplement policies. In addition, Americans, regardless of their age, are twice more likely than Europeans to take vitamin D supplements [3]. Another reason for the difference of levels between the two studies might simply lie in the type of assay used. Radioimmunoassay, which was used in Ducloux et al., yields vitamin D levels that are 15% to 25% lower than the reference method liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry [4]. The French and the American patients presenting for bariatric surgery most likely share the same low vitamin D phenotype. We are in complete agreement with Ducloux et al. regarding their concern about the additional lifetime risk of malabsorptive surgery in morbidly obese patients with baseline hypovitaminosis D. This underlines the need for a multidisciplinary approach in the long-term care for this ever-growing number of patients, as well as the need to implement guidelines for vitamin D supplementation in this vulnerable population.
Transient Temperature Cooling of Transformers: I - Derivation and Evaluation of Equations

Equations are developed for the transient temperature cooling of the transformer cooling medium and for various types of transformer coils over their ambient medium. These have been evaluated on a percent temperature rise base for various powers of the watts dissipated and for both constant watt and constant current input. Some special cases of cooling are derived from the general transient temperature cooling equation and are shown to check the usual derivation.
The Myriad Pieces of Einstein's Remains

John Stachel, Robert Schulmann, Diana Kormos Buchwald, et al., editors, The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, 12 Volumes. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1987–2009. Reviewed by Albert...
Mode of Action of the Toxin from Pseudomonas phaseolicola: II. Mechanism of Inhibition of Bean Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase

A chlorosis-inducing toxin of Pseudomonas phaseolicola was examined for inhibition of ornithine carbamoyltransferease prepared from acetone powder of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants. The enzyme has a pH optimum at 8.5, involves a ternary complex reaction mechanism, and shows Michaelis constants of 5.0 mm and 1.7 mm for ornithine and carbamoylphosphate, respectively. Assuming reversible catalysis, Michaelas constants of 11 mm and 3.3 mm are calculated for citrulline and arsenate. Toxin induces allosteric competitive inhibition in relation to carbamoylphosphate and a noncompetitive mode of inhibition in relation to ornithine, except at high toxin concentrations where uncompetitive inhibition is observed. In the backward assay, competitive inhibition is observed for both arsenate and citrulline. Inhibition is increased with preincubation time and shows saturation kinetics with regard to toxin concentration.
Chronic exposure to ethanol alters neurotrophin content in the basal forebrain-cortex system in the mature rat: effects on autocrine-paracrine mechanisms.

Neurotrophins are broadly expressed in the mammalian forebrain: notably in cerebral cortex and the basal forebrain (e.g., the septal and basal nuclei). These factors promote neuronal survival and plasticity, and have been implicated as key players in learning and memory. Chronic exposure to ethanol causes learning and memory deficits. We tested the hypothesis that ethanol affects neurotrophin expression and predicted that these changes would be consistent with alterations in retrograde or autocrine/paracrine systems. Mature rats were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol daily for 8 or 24 weeks. Weight-matched controls were pair-fed an isocaloric, isonutritive diet. Proteins from five structures (parietal and entorhinal cortices, hippocampus, and the basal and septal nuclei) were studied. ELISAs were used to determine the concentration of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). All three neurotrophins were detected in each structure examined. Ethanol treatment significantly (p < 0.05) affected neurotrophin expression in time- and space-dependent manners. NGF content was generally depressed by ethanol exposure, whereas NT-3 content increased. BDNF concentration was differentially affected by ethanol: it increased in the parietal cortex and the basal forebrain and decreased in the hippocampus. With the exception of NGF in the septohippocampal system, the ethanol-induced changes in connected structures were inconsistent with changes that would be predicted from a retrograde model. Thus, the present data (a) support the concept that neurotrophins act through a nonretrograde system (i.e., a local autocrine/paracrine system), and (b) that chronic exposure to ethanol disrupts these regulatory mechanisms. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 60: 490–498, 2004
Reactivity of antisera to endogenous tumor virus for splenic B lymphocytes of immunized 15I5 × 72 and 15I5 × 71 chickens

Abstract Immunofluorescence was employed to assay the spleens from several strains of chicken for the presence of antigen reactive with rabbit antisera elicited to the endogenous oncornavirus RAV-O. Antigen was detected in numerous islands or clusters of B lymphocytes that were localized to splenic red pulp of 15I 5 × 7 2 and 15I 5 × 7 1 chickens that had been sensitized to sheep red blood cells. Competition experiments provided evidence for cross-reactivity with structural antigen of RAV-0. Islands of antigen-positive cells were not detected in the spleens of nonsensitized 15I 5 × 7 2 or 15I 5 × 7 1 chickens although several of these spleens exhibited small numbers of scattered antigen-positive B cells. Spleens of sensitized or nonsensitized Spafas MR53 chickens did not react to detectable levels with the anti-RAV-O sera.
Comparison of the Spo2/Fio2 Ratio and the Pao2/Fio2 Ratio in Patients With Acute Lung Injury or ARDS

Background The diagnostic criteria for acute lung injury (ALI) and ARDS utilize the Pa o 2 /fraction of inspired oxygen (F io 2 ) [P/F] ratio measured by arterial blood gas analysis to assess the degree of hypoxemia. We hypothesized that the pulse oximetric saturation (Sp o 2 )/F io 2 (S/F) ratio can be substituted for the P/F ratio in assessing the oxygenation criterion of ALI. Methods Corresponding measurements of Sp o 2 (values ≤ 97%) and Pa o 2 from patients enrolled in the ARDS Network trial of a lower tidal volume ventilator strategy (n = 672) were compared to determine the relationship between S/F and P/F. S/F threshold values correlating with P/F ratios of 200 (ARDS) and 300 (ALI) were determined. Similar measurements from patients enrolled in the ARDS Network trial of lower vs higher positive end-expiratory pressure (n = 402) were utilized for validation. Results In the derivation data set (2,613 measurements), the relationship between S/F and P/F was described by the following equation: S/F = 64 + 0.84 × (P/F) [p r = 0.89). An S/F ratio of 235 corresponded with a P/F ratio of 200, while an S/F ratio of 315 corresponded with a P/F ratio of 300. The validation database (2,031 measurements) produced a similar linear relationship. The S/F ratio threshold values of 235 and 315 resulted in 85% sensitivity with 85% specificity and 91% sensitivity with 56% specificity, respectively, for P/F ratios of 200 and 300. Conclusion S/F ratios correlate with P/F ratios. S/F ratios of 235 and 315 correlate with P/F ratios of 200 and 300, respectively, for diagnosing and following up patients with ALI and ARDS.
TECHNICAL NOTE: A SIMPLE MODEL FOR OPTIMIZING THE SINGLE MACHINE EARLY/TARDY PROBLEM WITH SEQUENCE‐DEPENDENT SETUPS

A simple mixed integer programming model for the N job/single machine scheduling problem with possibly sequence-dependent setup times, differing earliness/tardiness cost penalties, and variable due dates is proposed and evaluated for computational efficiency. Results indicated that the computational effort required to reach optimality rose with the number of jobs to be scheduled and with decreased variance in due dates. Though computational effort was significant for the largest problems solved, the model remained viable for optimizing research scale problems.
A Theory-Based Curriculum for Enhancing Surgical Skillfulness

Background Curricula for surgical technical skills laboratories have traditionally been designed to accommodate the clinical activities of residents, so they typically consist of individual, episodic training sessions. We believe that the skills laboratory offers an opportunity to design a surgical skills curriculum based on the fundamental elements known to be important for motor skill instruction. We hypothesized that training novices with such a curriculum for a 1-month period would yield skills performance levels equivalent to those of second year surgery residents who had trained in a traditional program. Study Design Fourth-year medical students served as study subjects (novice group) during a 4-week senior elective. They were taught each skill during a 1-week period. Subjects received instruction by a content expert followed by a 1-week period of deliberate practice with feedback. The novice performances were videotaped both before and after the intervention, and each videotape was evaluated in a blinded fashion by experts using a validated evaluation instrument. These results were compared with skill performance ratings of first- and second-year surgery residents that had been accumulated over the previous 3 years. Results Average performance ratings for the novices substantially improved for all four skills after training. There was no marked difference between average performance ratings of postintervention novice scores when compared with the average scores in the resident group. Inter-rater agreement in scoring for the videotaped novice performances exceeded 0.87 (intraclass correlation) for all ratings of pre- and posttraining. Conclusions These results demonstrate the effectiveness of a laboratory-based training program that includes fundamentals of motor skills acquisition.
Design of a biomimetic-based monitoring and diagnostic system for civil structures

Recent high intensity natural events such as hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes have introduced new challenges for the design, maintenance, and sustainability of civil structures. Globally, civil infrastructures are deteriorating at an alarming rate caused by overuse, overloading, aging, damage or failure due to natural or man-made hazards. With such a vast network of deteriorating infrastructure, there is a growing interest in continuous monitoring technologies. In order to provide an information data transfer mechanism that integrates output of an embedded, distributed sensory network and the control system in civil structures, this paper describes design and development of a Structural Nervous System that mimics key attributes of the human nervous system. This biomimetic-based innovative idea for the design of a self-powered structural monitoring and diagnostic system utilises a novel, non-living plant protein (forisome) for sensing and information transfer. The overall nervous system design and preliminary experimental data on forisomes are presented in this paper.
Surgical Bypass of Symptomatic Central Venous Obstruction for Arteriovenous Fistula Salvage in Hemodialysis Patients

Venous hypertension due to proximal central venous outflow obstruction coexisting with a functioning arteriovenous fistula in the ipsilateral arm presents with a complex management problem in hemodialysis patients. Ligation of the arteriovenous communication is the simplest procedure to relieve symptoms; however, this sacrifices the patient's hemodialysis access, which may be the only available access in that patient. Surgical bypass of the occlusion is a potential option as it obviates the symptoms of venous hypertension while preserving dialysis access. Our objective was to evaluate our experience and outcome with dialysis patients undergoing surgical bypass for symptomatic central venous obstruction and dialysis access salvage. There were three hemodialysis patients with severe venous hypertension secondary to subclavian vein obstruction who had functioning ipsilateral arteriovenous fistulae. All underwent cephalic vein (n = 2) or axillary vein (n = 1) to internal jugular vein bypass of the obstructed subclavian segment via an 8-mm polytetrafluoroethylene bridge graft. All patients had unsuccessful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) attempts prior to surgical bypass. In two patients, a wire could not be passed through the occlusion; in the third, PTA was only transiently successful despite four repeated procedures. All patients had complete resolution of symptoms without operative mortality. The bypass grafts remained patent, allowing the arteriovenous fistulae to provide functional access for the entire duration of follow-up after surgery (3-8 months). Surgical bypass of a central vein obstruction relieves the symptoms of venous hypertension and prolongs the use of the existing hemodialysis access. This surgical option should be well recognized within the dialysis community.
Synthesis of advanced Switched Reluctance Machine topologies using microscopic force density analysis

Despite considerable progress in development of power electronic-based control of electromenchanical energy converters (EMEC), relative small changes have been observed in the magnetic design of EMECs. A physically insightful understanding of mechanism of electromagnetic force generation can shed light into the process of design and control of EMECs, thereby creating new opportunities for EMEC performance enhancement. This paper starts with interpretation of Korteweg-Helmholtz force density formula and categorizes different factors which contribute to force generation in an EMEC. Switched Reluctance Machine (SRM) is chosen as the subject of present study; different approaches of improving force generation are identified and summarized as rules for topology synthesis. Through iterations of topology synthesis with aim at enhanced torque output, a novel hybrid airgap SRM topology is derived. Quantitative as well as qualitative analysis are conducted toward proposed topologies. Based on evaluations of steady state performance and variety of and performance indices, short flux path hybrid airgap SRM outperforms the other proposed topologies, hence proves the effectiveness of synthesis rules and processs.
Novel slow-wave coupled lines with coupling enhancement

A novel coupled line structure is studied based on two layers of crossing strips with dense interconnecting vias. The two arrays of vias resembling fence walls in substrate integrated waveguides help enhance the inductive coupling significantly. Dispersion characteristics of both odd and even modes are investigated with emphasis on phase equalization and impedance design as well as coupling enhancement. A specific slow-wave coupled-line structure with enhanced coupling is designed, fabricated and tested as an example. Good agreements are found between measured and simulated results of slow-wave factors, line impedances, and coupling level.
A New Approach for Filtering and Derivative Estimation of Noisy Signals

Filtering and estimation of derivatives in a single step from noisy signals is an important and challenging task in signal processing. The aim of this paper is to propose a new tracking differentiator based on only one parameter; this differentiator is able to synchronously filter noise and estimate the derivative of the input signal. The new tracking differentiator design is based on an inverse Taylor series approach. Both error and stability analyses of the tracking differentiator design are provided. Theoretical analysis and computer simulation results show that this tracking differentiator cannot only obtain better filtering results than previous approaches but can also estimate the derivatives with high accuracy.
Structural Response of BaTiO3/CaTiO3 Superlattice to Applied Electric Fields

The structural response of a ferroelectric BaTiO3/dielectric CaTiO3 superlattice to the bipolar applied electric field was studied using time-resolved x-ray microdiffraction. Structural results were compared to the polarization-electric field hysteresis curve obtained from electrical measurements. The superlattice x-ray reflections were found to have a broad distribution of intensity in reciprocal space under applied electric fields exceeding the nominal coercive electric field. The broad distribution of the lattice constant at high electric fields is compared with a model in which the constituent layers of the superlattice have different coercive fields for the polarization switching.
A WIRNA receiver architecture based 16 GHz optical analog heterodyne FM link

We demonstrate a 16 GHz analog heterodyne FM link with pre-emphasis operating at 1540 nm wavelength, with a NF (noise figure) of (40/spl plusmn/1) dB and SFDR (spurious-free dynamic range) of (108/spl plusmn/2) dB-Hz/sup 2/3/, employing a WIRNA (wide-band rectifier narrow-band amplifier) receiver to reduce phase noise.
Direct measurement of the energy expenditure of physical activity in preterm infants

The energy cost of physical activity (EEA) has been estimated to account for 5–17% of total energy expenditure (TEE) in neonates. To directly measure EEA, a force plate was developed and validated ...
Improvements in the Methodology of Monitoring Sulfur Mustard Exposure by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Cleaved and Derivatized Blood Protein Adducts

An analytical method for determining exposure to 2,2'dichlorodiethyl sulfide (sulfur mustard, HD) has been enhanced.
The molecular basis of functional bacterial amyloid polymerization and nucleation.

Amyloid fibers are filamentous proteinaceous structures commonly associated with mammalian neurodegenerative diseases. Nucleation is the rate-limiting step of amyloid propagation, and its nature remains poorly understood. Escherichia coli assembles functional amyloid fibers called curli on the cell surface using an evolved biogenesis machine. In vivo, amyloidogenesis of the major curli subunit protein, CsgA, is dependent on the minor curli subunit protein, CsgB. Here, we directly demonstrated that CsgB+ cells efficiently nucleated purified soluble CsgA into amyloid fibers on the cell surface. CsgA contains five imperfect repeating units that fulfill specific roles in directing amyloid formation. Deletion analysis revealed that the N- and C-terminal most repeating units were required for in vivo amyloid formation. We found that CsgA nucleation specificity is encoded by the N- and C-terminal most repeating units using a blend of genetic, biochemical, and electron microscopic analyses. In addition, we found that the C-terminal most repeat was most aggregation-prone and dramatically contributed to CsgA polymerization in vitro. This work defines the elegant molecular signatures of bacterial amyloid nucleation and polymerization, thereby revealing how nature directs amyloid formation to occur at the correct time and location.
Prepulse Inhibition of the Tritonia Escape Swim

Presenting a weak stimulus just before a strong, startle stimulus reduces the amplitude of the ensuing startle response in humans and other vertebrates. This phenomenon, termed “prepulse inhibition” (PPI), appears to function to reduce distraction while processing sensory input. To date, no detailed neural mechanism has been described for PPI. Here we demonstrate PPI in the marine mollusk Tritonia diomedea , which has a nervous system highly suitable for cellular analyses. We found that a 100 msec vibrotactile prepulse prevented the animal’s escape swim response to a closely following 1 sec tail shock. This inhibition was highly transient, with a significant effect lasting just 2.5 sec. These findings indicate that the Tritonia escape swim response undergoes a form of PPI phenomenologically similar to that observed in vertebrates. Further tests showed that the vibrotactile stimulus had no inhibitory effect if applied after tail shock, while the animal was preparing to swim, but it acted to terminate swims once they were actively under way. As a first step toward a cellular analysis of PPI, we recorded from neurons of the swim circuit in a semi-intact preparation and found that the vibrotactile stimulus used in the behavioral experiments also prevented the tail shock-elicited swim motor program. These results represent the first explicit demonstration of PPI in an invertebrate and establish Tritonia as a model system for analyzing its physiological basis.
Forty years of cancer modelling in the mouse

Mouse models of human cancer have played an important role in formulating modern concepts of multistage carcinogenesis, and are providing us with a new armoury of tools for the testing of novel therapeutic approaches to cancer treatment. The development of inducible and conditional technologies provide us with greater opportunity to generate mouse models which faithfully recapitulate human tumorigenesis, in terms of both the biology and the genetics of this disease. It is now feasible to control, in time and space, the development of tumours in almost any mouse tissue, such that we now have available mouse models of all major human cancers. Moreover, novel non-invasive approaches to tumour imaging will enable us to follow tumour development and metastasis in vivo, as well as the effects of candidate therapeutic drugs. Such new generation tumour models, which accurately emulate the disease state in situ, should provide a useful platform with which to experimentally test drugs targeted to specific gene products, or combinations of genes that control rate-limiting steps of tumour development.
The current state of high resolution scanning electron microscopy

It has been known for many years that there are two distinct ways of designing an electron microscope.
Teaching Grid Computing: Topics, Exercises, and Experiences

Grid protocols and technologies are being adopted in a wide variety of academic, government, and industrial environments, and a growing body of research-oriented literature in grid computing is being compiled. However, there is a need for educational material that is suitable for classroom use. This paper describes topics, exercises, and experiences of teaching grid computing at two different universities. Course material in grid computing can be grouped into several knowledge areas. The focus in this paper is on grid programming, i.e., developing grid-enabled services using the Globus toolkit. Assessment data shows that with preparatory material and hands-on exercises, undergraduate computer science students can master grid programming. Topics and exercises for security, network programming, Web services, and grid programming are described. Recommendations include using stand-alone containers on individual student computers and following a first grid programming exercise that builds confidence with at least one more elaborate grid programming exercise
Historical perspectives of cellular oxygen sensing and responses to hypoxia

The responses to acute and chronic hypoxia begin with oxygen sensing, and this historical perspective is written in line with this concept. The earliest pertinent work started with studies on fermentation in yeast in the 17th century, before the discovery of oxygen. It required 200 yr to localize the oxygen sensing within the cells and another 100 yr to discover the cellular oxidation reactions. Today, the consensus is that the mitochondrial respiratory chain is in part the site of oxygen sensing. In addition, membrane-bound NAD(P)H oxidase possibly takes part in oxygen sensing. Oxygen-sensing mechanisms occur in a tissue-specific fashion. For example, the carotid body responds to hypoxia promptly by eliciting a ventilatory response, whereas erythropoietin production in response to hypoxia requires more time, involving new expression of genes. The mechanism has therefore moved from the cells to genes.
Computer-assisted instruction: an effective instructional method for HIV prevention education?

Abstract %Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of a computer-assisted instruction (CAI)-based intervention to a more traditional lecture-based intervention for influencing psychosocial correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preventive behaviors. Methods: Students enrolled in a Human Sexuality course (N = 152) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: CAI, Lecture, or No Intervention group. Participants in the CAI group reviewed a 1-hour long CAI program, participants in the Lecture group were presented with a 1-hour long lecture, and participants in the No Intervention group received no intervention. After completing the respective interventions, all participants completed the HIV questionnaire, which measured selected Social Cognitive Theory constructs associated with HIV preventive behaviors. MANCOVA, ANCOVA and Post Hoc analyses were utilized to test for significant differences among the three groups. Results: The analyses disclosed that, compared to participants in the Lecture group, participants in the CAI group scored significantly higher on the scales measuring autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, self-evaluative outcome motivation, and intention to practice HIV preventive behaviors with current partner. In addition, compared to the No Intervention group, the CAI group scored significantly higher on the scales measuring physical outcome motivation and social outcome motivation. Conclusions: CAI-based programs can be effective for delivering instruction on HIV prevention. However, because of certain limitations, this type of program is best utilized as part of a more comprehensive intervention that uses several different delivery systems.
PHILIP GLENN , Laughter in interaction

Philip Glenn, Laughter in interaction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Pp. xi, 190, Hb $75.00.Drawing on extant research in conversation analysis (CA) and other fields, Glenn's entry in the “Studies in Interactional Sociolinguistics” series is both an excellent introduction to CA for those outside the field and an interesting exploration of the social phenomenon of laughter. The first chapter gives a general survey of the research, which has often focused on the physicality of laughter and its relation to humor. Ultimately, however, the chapter suggests a function of laughter beyond expressing amusement: affiliation with co-participants in social interaction. In chap. 2, Glenn provides a helpful outline of CA. He emphasizes CA's focus on participants' perspectives and provides a cogent explanation for CA's meticulous transcription conventions with the example of silences, marked on CA transcripts in tenths of seconds. To leave them out, he argues, would be to assume from the beginning that silences in talk mean nothing (p. 37) – an idea that most competent talkers, let alone CA researchers, would reject out of hand.
The Velcro Mustache: A Potential Barrier to Effective Bag-and-Mask Ventilation in Neonates on Nasal CPAP: Two Case Reports

Hudson prongs (Hudson RCI, Teleflex Medical, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina) (a device to deliver nasal continuous positive airway pressure) are often secured with a “Velcro mustache” in neonatal intensive care units. We report 2 premature infants who required bag-and-mask ventilation while on Hudson prongs secured with a Velcro mustache. Effective ventilation was achieved only after removing the Velcro mustache.
A new cesium beam frequency standard performance data

With the addition of electronics that address power shift, C-field effects, and Rabi pulling, a new cesium standard shows the expected reduction in overall instabilities due to environmental factors and electronics errors. Actual performance data obtained from a number of standards designed incorporating a new architecture are reported. The data substantiates the design theories, plans, and goals to produce a frequency standard whose sensitivity to environmental factors is greatly reduce when compared to existing standards. >
The stability of personality traits in individuals with borderline personality disorder

Although stability and pervasive inflexibility are general criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) personality disorders (PDs), borderline PD (BPD) is characterized by instability in several domains, including interpersonal behavior, affect, and identity. The authors hypothesized that such inconsistencies notable in BPD may relate to instability at the level of the basic personality traits that are associated with this disorder. Five types of personality trait stability across 4 assessments over 6 years were compared for BPD patients (N = 130 at first interval) and patients with other PDs (N = 302). Structural stability did not differ across groups. Differential stability tended to be lower for 5-factor model (FFM) traits in the BPD group, with the strongest and most consistent effects observed for Neuroticism and Conscientiousness. Growth curve models suggested that these 2 traits also showed greater mean-level change, with Neuroticism declining faster and Conscientiousness increasing faster, in the BPD group. The BPD group was further characterized by greater individual-level instability for Neuroticism and Conscientiousness in these models. Finally, the BPD group was less stable in terms of the ipsative configuration of FFM facet-level profiles than was the other PD group over time. Results point to the importance of personality trait instability in characterizing BPD.
TIME BUDGETS, ACTIVITY PERIODS, AND BEHAVIOR OF MEXICAN FOX SQUIRRELS

Resources that limit reproductive success differ between the sexes in many vertebrates. We used focal animal observations to determine sex-specific activity periods, time budgets, and movements of endemic Mexican fox squirrels (Sciurus nayaritensis chiricahuae) in montane forests of southeastern Arizona during June, August, and December 1994 and January 1995. Activity periods during summer were bimodal with peaks in morning and afternoon separated by a midday lull in activity; winter activity was unimodal. No sex differences were detected in activity periods, although males retired later than females in winter. Resting, feeding, and locomotion were the most common behaviors and accounted for >75% of activities of each sex. Activity by females did not differ between seasons. Males spent more time in locomotion in summer and more time feeding in winter than in other seasons. Differences in time budgets of the sexes suggest that males and females apportion daily activity to maximize access to resources that limit fitness of each sex.
Mesoderm Induction and Patterning

The mesoderm arises prior to gastrulation as a ring at the equator of the embryo (Fig. 1A). This ring of cells sits on top of an extra embryonic structure called the yolk syncytial layer (YSL). The YSL forms when the most marginal blastomeres collapse into the yolk cell at the 10th cleavage (Kimmel and Law 1985b). The cells closest to the YSL develop into either mesoderm or endoderm, whereas cells further away from the YSL develop only as mesoderm (Kimmel et al. 1990; Warga and Nusslein-Volhard 1999).
Occupancy of adenosine receptors raises cyclic AMP alone and in synergy with occupancy of chemoattractant receptors and inhibits membrane depolarization.

Abstract We have recently demonstrated that adenosine, acting via adenosine A2 receptors, inhibits generation of superoxide anions (O2-) by stimulated neutrophils. To determine the mechanism(s) by which adenosine inhibits O2- generation stimulated by the chemoattractant N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP), we examined cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentrations, stimulated membrane depolarization and Ca2+ movements. Neither adenosine nor 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), the most potent agonist at adenosine A2 receptors, increases neutrophil cAMP content. However in the presence of the non-methylxanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Ro-20-1724, both adenosine and NECA elicit a reversible increase in intracellular cAMP concentration. The chemoattractant FMLP also elicits an increment in the neutrophil cAMP content. NECA, in the presence of Ro-20-1724, synergistically enhances the increment in cAMP following stimulation by FMLP. However Ro-20-1724 does not potentiate the inhibition of O2- generation by NECA. Unlike other agents which increase neutrophil cAMP concentrations, NECA, even in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, only trivially inhibits degranulation. We also found that adenosine markedly inhibits stimulated membrane depolarization but does not affect the stimulated increment in free ionized intracellular calcium. Moreover, inhibition by adenosine of O2- generation does not vary with the concentration of extracellular calcium. These results fulfil the last criterion for the demonstration of an A2 receptor on human neutrophils, and indicate that adenosine occupies an A2 receptor on neutrophils to raise intracellular cAMP in synergy with occupancy of the FMLP receptor. The results reported here also indicate that cAMP is not the second messenger for inhibition of O2- generation by adenosine and its analogues.
Improvements to the Actuator Line Modeling for Wind Turbines

The Actuator Line method of modeling wind turbine rotors has become popular over the last several years. There are various issues pertaining to the use of this method from a practitioner’s stand point including grid dependent solutions and strong effect of projection width on the predicted power. Some improvements to the existing actuator line method are investigated in this paper and discussed. The strategies include utilizing two projection widths based on the physical attributes of the blade (chord and width of the actuator element) and reducing the sensitivity of the AL model to the input velocities by averaging them.
Evaluation of Hyperspectral Snapshot Imagers onboard Nanosatellite Clusters for Multi-Angular Remote Sensing

Hyperspectral snapshot imagers are capable of producing 2D spatial images with a single exposure at selected and numerous wavelength bands instead of 1D spatial at all spectral band images like in push-broom instruments. Snapshot imagers are critical technologies for multi-angle remote sensing using distributed space missions. They help to relax the attitude control requirements of clusters of small satellites whose narrow field-of-view payloads point at the same ground spot or to increase the footprint area of small satellite constellations with wide field-of-view payloads. This paper reviews the existing spectral imagers for multi-angle remote sensing, performs a feasibility study to incorporate existing state-of-the-art snapshot imagers and proposes baseline imagers to serve as payload for the distributed nanosatellites. The overall approach includes an extensive trade study to identify the optics, spectral elements, their parameters and compare the identified choices both qualitatively and quantitatively. The proposed baseline design has an telescope aperture diameter of 7 cm, focal plane pixel size of 20 μm, 1000 pixels per side of the focal plane array sampling the scene and acousto-optic tunable filters or waveguide spatial heterodyne imagers that simulate a swath up to 90 km, image up to 86 wavebands with an SNR above 100. The tradeoff between spectral and spatial ranges sampled by the two baseline imager options has been highlighted.
Enhanced Luminescence From Rare Earth Doped Thin Films

Results of a study of the luminescence of rare earth ions in crystalline thin films grown on reflective substrates will be presented. As an example, the luminescence of Sm 2 +:CaF 2 films has been calculated as a function of the separation between the active layer and a silicon substrate. These calculations involve coupling the narrow resonance of the rare earth ions to the electromagnetic modes of the film. Results including the optimum thickness for enhanced luminescence will be presented. Experimental work on Sm 2 +:CaF 2 films grown on Si by molecular beam epitaxy will also be discussed.
Changes in Rabbit Renal Physiology Following Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment

Both renal units of nine New Zealand white rabbits were subjected to extracorporeal shock waves in a Dornier experimental lithotripter. Each kidney received 3,000 shock waves at 18 kV. Twenty-four hour creatinine clearances were then determined for all nine rabbits on a daily basis for the first seven days following shock wave treatment (short-term study). Three rabbits were then followed on a weekly basis for two months following shock wave treatment (long-term study). A significant reduction in creatinine clearance occurred from a pre-treatment level of 8.3 ml/min to 0.61 ml/min on Day 1, 0.87 ml/min on Day 2, and 1.04 ml on Day 3. Creatinine clearance returned to control values by Day 5 in the short-term study and by Day 14 in the long-term study. This study demonstrates that extracorporeal shock waves at clinical levels do result in short-term reduction in renal function in rabbits; however, this effect appears to be reversible. We also believe that this technique presents an animal model that can be used for investigation of effects of shock waves on renal physiology.
Adult procedural sedation: an update.

Purpose of review The increasing request for procedural sedation will create in the upcoming future the need for a specific training in delivering care to patients in a continuum of sedation, whose effects and adverse events are unpredictable. The main debate in the past years has been focused on using drugs that could have few adverse effects and could be considered well tolerated when administered by a nonanaesthesiologist. Propofol remains the most used drug for procedural sedation, but given its side-effects, its administration is limited and suggested only when an anaesthesiologist is available. The main studies recently appearing in the literature are focusing on the use of alternative drugs such as dexmedetomidine, remifentanil, fospropofol, ketofol and remimazolam. The current study is an overview of the different fields of procedural sedation, describing the evidence from the published studies and some upcoming studies. Recent findings Propofol is still considered as the drug of choice, and a recent study on its administration in the emergency department by nonanaesthesiologists has revealed a reduced number of adverse events. Dexmedetomidine is considered, at present, the most commonly used alternative to propofol, given its greater safety in terms of haemodynamic stability and lack of respiratory depression. Remifentanil has been suggested as the 'solo' drug during procedural sedation by target-controlled infusion, but it needs a controlled environment and skilled practitioners. Fosprofol and ketofol are new alternatives, but convincing studies that could support their wider use are absent. Remimazolam is another alternative whose efficacy is still to be determined. Most of the studies in the literature are debating on the training that the 'proceduralist' should undergo to deliver sedation safely and to manage any kind of adverse effect caused by it. Summary Recent studies on procedural sedation are still debating on the use of propofol by nonanaesthesiologists and are exploring the use of other sedatives and analgesics. The main goal in the future should be to have a clear curriculum on the role of the 'sedationalist' outside the operating room.
Management of vitreous loss during cataract surgery under topical anesthesia with transconjunctival vitrectomy system.

PurposeA new technique to manage posterior capsular rupture with vitreous prolapse into the anterior chamber during phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia using the sutureless self-sealing 25...
Rethinking the Cost of Information Search Behavior

In this paper, we present a cognitive-economic approach to examining the cost in information search. Unlike previous studies on economic models, we calculated the cost in information search based on participants' eye-tracking data as well as their behavioral data, such as query formulation, search task duration, SERP and web page visits. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), we explored a possible latent factor structure of variables representing the cost in information search. Our results indicated that the cost of information seeking could be associated with two distinct aspects of search, exploratory and validation processes.