cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EXAMINATION OF SWISS CHEESE FOR INCIDENCE OF MYCOTOXIN PRODUCING MOLDS

Samples of 11 brands of Swiss cheese were analyzed by plate count for molds capable of growing at 5 and 21°C. Portions of each sample were stored at 5°C and observed for visible mold development throughout a 6-wk storage period. Representative molds were isolated from counted plates and moldy samples, and identified to genus. Isolates were grown in yeast extract sucrose broth and rice powder corn steep agar cultures at 12°C for 2 wk, and then extracted with chloroform. The extracts were tested for toxicity to 7-day-old chicken embryos, and analyzed for the presence of known mycotoxins using TLC. Cheese samples that developed visible mold growth during storage were extracted with acetonitrile. The extracts were examined for the presence of known mycotoxins using TLC. Mold counts ranged < 10 to 1580 colonies/g of surface cheese at 5°C and from < 10 to 5700 colonies/g of surface cheese at 21°C. AlI cheese samules stored at 5°C develoued visible mold growth within 6 wk. Of the 183 molds isolated, 87% were Penicillium species; 93% of the isolates that grew at 5°C were penicillia. Toxicological screening of the mold isolates showed extracts of 34% of all isorates, and 35% of Penicillium isolates were toxic to chicken embryos. Chemical analyses of the culture extracts detected known mycotoxins in 5.5%. Toxins detected were penicillic acid, patulin and aflatoxins. Analyses of moldy cheese stored at 5°C for 6 wk for known mycotoxins showed peniciliic acid in 4 of 33 samples. The isolated penicillic acid was comparable to standard penicillic acid by TLC in three different solvent systems using three different derivatization procedures. UV and IR absorption spectral data supported the TLC data.
Mouse liver nucleic acids II. Ultra-violet absorption studies☆

Abstract 1. 1. Alterations in the ultra-violet absorption characteristics of mouse liver pentose and desoxypentose nucleic acids following treatment with acid, alkali, and specific enzyme were demonstrated. 2. 2. Four separate yeast ribose nucleic acid samples showed a consistent increase in absorption by each preparation following acid and alkaline hydrolysis. 3. 3. Extinction values were determined for mouse liver pentose and desoxypentose nucleic acids following specific hydrolytic procedures for purposes of establishing constants for the estimation of these substances by ultra-violet spectrophotometric methods. 4. 4. Investigations dealing with the estimation of nucleic acids in normal mouse liver were presented using spectrophotometric procedures in conjunction with chemical analyses for phosphorus, pentose, and desoxypentose.
Advanced Integration Schemes for High-Functionality/High- Performance Photonic Integrated Circuits

The evolution of optical communication systems has facilitated the required bandwidth to meet the increasing data rate demands. However, as the peripheral technologies have progressed to meet the requirements of advanced systems, an abundance of viable solutions and products have emerged. The finite market for these products will inevitably force a paradigm shift upon the communications industry. Monolithic integration is a key technology that will facilitate this shift as it will provide solutions at low cost with reduced power dissipation and foot-print in the form of highly-functional optical components based on photonic integrated circuits (PICs). In this manuscript, we discuss the advantages, potential applications, and challenges of photonic integration. After a brief overview of various integration techniques, we present our novel approaches to increase the performance of the individual components comprising highly functional PICs.
Of Mice, Men, and Hormones

Incidence of cardiovascular disease is consistently greater in men than in women during the first five decades of life.1 Because this gender disparity begins early in life, it is likely that a combination of genetic, environmental (possibly intrauterine) factors, and actions of sex-specific hormones contribute to the disease process (see Nagel and vom Saal2). However, most research has focused on understanding how sex steroid hormones, estrogens and androgens, affect vascular function in men and women. See page 1055 Historically, an “estrogen protection” hypothesis, where estrogens limit development of atherosclerosis, has been tested, although an “androgen detrimental” hypothesis is also plausible, but less studied. Although these hypotheses provide a starting point for design of experiments to study effects of hormones on vascular function, review of available data suggests a more complex interaction among the sex steroids than this simple dichotomy.3 Therefore, new approaches are needed to dissect mechanisms of how sex steroids interact in development of vascular disease in both sexes. The study by Villablanca et al, reported in this issue, uses an approach of examining the contribution of estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) in development of early atheroma in male mice.4 The design is based on two published lines of research: one which forms the basis of the estrogen “protection” hypothesis, and the other which suggests that disruption and/or polymorphisms in ESR1 are associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events in men. The estrogen protection hypothesis arose predominately from large cohort studies, where perimenopausal women treated with estrogen or estrogen-progestin for relief of menopausal symptoms had reduced cardiovascular disease compared with untreated women.5,6 From experimental studies, estrogen treatment of ovariectomized animals affected several processes that would promote repair of damaged vascular endothelium, reduce adhesion of aggregating platelets and leukocytes, and cause vasodilatation and thus limit development …
Molecular Basis of Azithromycin-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms are extremely recalcitrant to antibiotic treatment. Treatment of cystic fibrosis patients with azithromycin (AZM) has shown promise. We used DNA microarrays to identify differentially expressed transcripts in developing P. aeruginosa biofilms exposed to 2 mug/ml AZM. We report that transcripts for multiple restriction-nodulation-cell division (RND) efflux pumps, known to be involved in planktonic antibiotic resistance, and transcripts involved in type III secretion were upregulated in the resistant biofilms that developed in the presence of AZM. Interestingly, the MexAB-OprM and MexCD-OprJ efflux pumps, but not type III secretion, appear to be integral to biofilm formation in the presence of AZM, as evidenced by the fact that a mutant deleted in both mexAB-oprM and mexCD-oprJ was unable to form a biofilm in the presence of AZM. A mutant deleted in type III secretion was still able to form biofilms in the presence of drug. Furthermore, single mexAB-oprM- and mexCD-oprJ-null mutants were able to form a biofilm in the presence of drug, indicating that either of the pumps can confer resistance to AZM during biofilm development. In contrast to planktonically grown cells, where no mexC expression was detectable regardless of the presence of AZM, biofilms exhibited induction of mexC expression from the outset of their formation, but only in the presence of AZM. mexA, which is constitutively expressed in planktonic cells, was uniformly expressed in biofilms regardless of the presence of AZM. These data indicate that the MexCD-OprJ pump acts as a biofilm-specific mechanism for AZM resistance.
Individualism and collectivism in Chinese and American television advertising

This study examined the cultural values promoted in television advertisements targeting younger and older audiences in China and the US, respectively, testing the hypothesis that ads in China would...
On Economics and Language

If I do not count the introductory essay by the editors, the book Economics and Language (Henderson, et al., 1993), can be divided into three substantive parts. The first is titled rhetoric and critical theory, the second, controversy and hedging in economics, and the third, language and the history of economic thought. Again not counting the introduction, the volume consists of a total of ten essays: four in the first part and three each in the remaining two. In Part I, the reader is introduced to a realist philosophy of economic rhetoric, to Ricoeur and the significance of the hermeneutic project for economics, to Bakhtin's dialogism in the formation of the canon, and to the relevance of Derrida and of deconstructive methods for rational choice theory. Part II is concerned with the “stylistics” of two sets of material: with the “debate” between Milton Friedman and his critics; and with 11 articles chosen from a recent issue of the Economic Journal. Finally, the three essays in Part III are devoted to Adam Smith, to Edgeworth and to the response of six elementary textbooks to a “puzzle” of economic theory.
Age-specific population frequencies of cerebral β-amyloidosis and neurodegeneration among people with normal cognitive function aged 50–89 years: a cross-sectional study

Summary Background As preclinical Alzheimer's disease becomes a target for therapeutic intervention, the overlap between imaging abnormalities associated with typical ageing and those associated with Alzheimer's disease needs to be recognised. We aimed to characterise how typical ageing and preclinical Alzheimer's disease overlap in terms of β-amyloidosis and neurodegeneration. Methods We measured age-specific frequencies of amyloidosis and neurodegeneration in individuals with normal cognitive function aged 50–89 years. Potential participants were randomly selected from the Olmsted County (MN, USA) population-based study of cognitive ageing and invited to participate in cognitive and imaging assessments. To be eligible for inclusion, individuals must have been judged clinically to have no cognitive impairment and have undergone amyloid PET, 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) PET, and MRI. Imaging results were obtained from March 28, 2006, to Dec 3, 2013. Amyloid status (positive [A + ] or negative [A – ]) was determined by amyloid PET with 11 C Pittsburgh compound B. Neurodegeneration status (positive [N + ] or negative [N – ]) was determined by an Alzheimer's disease signature 18 F-FDG PET or hippocampal volume on MRI. We determined age-specific frequencies of the four groups (amyloid negative and neurodegeneration negative [A – N – ], amyloid positive and neurodegeneration negative [A + N – ], amyloid negative and neurodegeneration positive [A – N + ], or amyloid positive and neurodegeneration positive [A + N + ]) cross-sectionally using multinomial regression models. We also investigated associations of group frequencies with APOE ɛ4 status (assessed with DNA extracted from blood) and sex by including these covariates in the multinomial models. Findings The study population consisted of 985 eligible participants. The population frequency of A – N – was 100% (n=985) at age 50 years and fell to 17% (95% CI 11–24) by age 89 years. The frequency of A + N – increased to 28% (24–32) at age 74 years, then decreased to 17% (11–25) by age 89 years. The frequency of A – N + increased from age 60 years, reaching 24% (16–34) by age 89 years. The frequency of A + N + increased from age 65 years, reaching 42% (31–52) by age 89 years. The results from our multinomial models suggest that A + N – and A + N + were more frequent in APOE ɛ4 carriers than in non-carriers and that A + N + was more, and A + N – less frequent in men than in women. Interpretation Accumulation of amyloid and neurodegeneration are nearly inevitable by old age, but many people are able to maintain normal cognitive function despite these imaging abnormalities. Changes in the frequency of amyloidosis and neurodegeneration with age, which seem to be modified by APOE ɛ4 and sex, suggest that pathophysiological sequences might differ between individuals. Funding US National Institute on Aging and Alexander Family Professorship of Alzheimer's Disease Research.
Evaluation of clinical practice: Forms of communication by which counselors receive self‐evaluative information

In a world with increasing demands for competent evaluation of counseling services, professional counselors are challenged to study and understand all facets of their unique methods of self-evaluation. This research report specifically discusses the types of communicated information used by counselors (N = 45) and suggests some improvements in self-evaluation based on the research results. The author discusses the use of behavioral, verbal, cognitive and written communication because these types of information are used differentially to assess input or outcome of treatment. The sources of each form of information also are identified because this impacts the validity and reliability of self-evaluative decisions.
Validation of absorbed-dose calculations using Y-90 in different source and target geometries

Because of increasing interest in patient-image-based dosimetry, dosimetry validation in phantoms would be useful, particularly for modeling complex source-target geometries. We have devised a fluorescence technique to measure doses to liquid-filled compartments. Solutions containing 0.1 mM coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (CCA) with Y-90 (YA) and without Y-90 (NA) were prepared. We measured the self-absorbed dose in six spheres, three cylinders, and two shell-sphere geometries. Each shell-sphere geometry consisted of an inner sphere containing NA solution, surrounded by an outer shell containing YA solution. This enabled us to measure the self-dose to the source shell as well as the cross-dose to the target sphere. After a 24 or 48 hour exposure, the mean dose to each compartment was estimated by measurement of the induced fluorescence in the solutions. A calibration curve obtained using NA solution exposed in a Cs-137 irradiator (98.3 rads/min) for different times displayed a linear increase in fluorescence with increasing dose up to 1500 rads. The self-dose increased with sphere or cylinder size, and agreed within plusmn8.5% with values computed using a Y-90 dose point-kernel method. However, the dose delivered to the 'cold' sphere compartment from the adjacent 'hot' shell, which was a few percent of the self-dose to the hot compartment, showed a large discrepancy between measured and calculated values. CCA fluorescence dosimetry is a promising technique for verification of dose calculations
Optimization of deposition uniformity for large-aperture National Ignition Facility substrates in a planetary rotation system

Multilayer coatings on large substrates with increasingly complex spectral requirements are essential for a number of optical systems, placing stringent requirements on the error tolerances of individual layers. Each layer must be deposited quite uniformly over the entire substrate surface since any nonuniformity will add to the layer-thickness error level achieved. A deposition system containing a planetary rotation system with stationary uniformity masking is modeled, with refinements of the planetary gearing, source placement, and uniformity mask shape being utilized to achieve an optimal configuration. The impact of improper planetary gearing is demonstrated theoretically, as well as experimentally, providing more comprehensive requirements than simply avoiding repetition of previous paths through the vapor plume, until all possible combinations of gear teeth have been used. Deposition efficiency and the impact of changing vapor plume conditions on the uniformity achieved are used to validate improved source placement. Uniformity measurements performed on a mapping laser photometer demonstrate nonuniformities of less than 0.5% for 0.75 m optics in a 72 in. (1.8 m) coating chamber.
Restless legs syndrome: Understanding its consequences and the need for better treatment

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a very common neurologic disorder with a prevalence of disease resulting in moderate and severe health impact of at least 2.7%. The purpose of this review, commissioned by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group, was to assess the medical literature on the consequences of RLS and the limitations of existing therapies. We conclude that RLS affects quality of life at least as severely as other common chronic illnesses and in particular results in insomnia, anxiety and depression. Epidemiologic evidence suggests a relationship between RLS and cardiovascular disease. Dopaminergic medications are effective but their use is limited by adverse effects, especially augmentation and impulse control disorders. Other classes of medications have variable effectiveness, undesirable side effects and few large controlled trials. We recommend increased commitment to funding RLS research in both the pathophysiology of the disorder and its treatment. Future therapeutic trials for RLS should include measures of quality of life, mood and sleep. Drug regulatory agencies are urged to consider the prevalence and impact of RLS as well as the limitations of existing therapies in determining the risk-benefit ratio of new drugs submitted for possible approval.
Here and now mobile learning: An experimental study on the use of mobile technology

Mobile technology opens the door for a new kind of learning called here and now learning that occurs when learners have access to information anytime and anywhere to perform authentic activities in the context of their learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of here and now mobile learning on student achievement and attitude. The research questions addressed were (1) Does ''Here and Now'' mobile learning significantly improve student achievement when compared with Computer based Instruction? (2) Does ''Here and Now'' mobile learning significantly improve student attitude when compared with Computer based Instruction? (3) Are there differences in student achievement and attitudes when ''Here and Now'' mobile learning is delivered using a tablet versus ipod? 109 undergraduate students enrolled in preservice instructional design and instructional technology courses at a regional southeastern university participated in the study. Participants took a pretest at the beginning of the study, and then were assigned to one of the versions of an art lesson (CBI version and iPad/iPod version) which were developed using Lectora Inspire incorporating information on five different paintings in the education building. After the lesson, they completed the posttest and an attitude survey. ANOVA was conducted on data obtained from the achievement posttest and on the attitude survey results for the Likert type items (Items 1-12). Analyses on achievement and attitude data revealed positive significant differences. The CBI treatment achieved positive posttest scores on the posttest while the iPad/iPod treatments had positive attitudes. This study has implications for those designing and implementing mobile learning.
A nomogram associated with high probability of malignant nodes in the surgical specimen after trimodality therapy of patients with oesophageal cancer

Abstract Background The presence of malignant lymph nodes (+ypNodes) in the surgical specimen after preoperative chemoradiation (trimodality) in patients with oesophageal cancer (EC) portends a poor prognosis for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Currently, none of the clinical variables highly correlates with +ypNodes. We hypothesised that a combination of clinical variables could generate a model that associates with high likelihood of +ypNodes after trimodality in EC patients. Methods We report on 293 consecutive EC patients who received trimodality therapy. A multivariate logistic regression analysis that included pretreatment and post-chemoradiation variables identified independent variables that were used to construct a nomogram for +ypNodes after trimodality in EC patients. Results Of 293 patients, 91 (31.1%) had +ypNodes. OS ( p = 0.0002) and DFS ( p p = 0.019), baseline N-stage (OR, 2.246; 95% CI, 1.024–4.926; p = 0.044), tumour length (OR, 1.178; 95% CI, 1.024–1.357; p = 0.022), induction chemotherapy (OR, 0.471; 95% CI, 0.242–0.915; p = 0.026), nodal uptake on post-chemoradiation positron emission tomography (OR, 2.923; 95% CI, 1.007–8.485; p = 0.049) and enlarged node(s) on post-chemoradiation computerised tomography (OR, 3.465; 95% CI, 1.549–7.753; p = 0.002). The nomogram after internal validation using the bootstrap method (200 runs) yielded a high concordance index of 0.756. Conclusion Our nomogram highly correlates with the presence of +ypNodes after chemoradiation, however, considerably more refinement is needed before it can be implemented in the clinic.
Cholinergic modulation of angiogenesis: role of the 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Pathological angiogenesis contributes to tobacco-related diseases such as malignancy, atherosclerosis and age-related macular degeneration. Nicotine acts on endothelial nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) to activate endothelial cells and to augment pathological angiogenesis. In the current study, we studied nAChR subunits involved in these actions. We detected mRNA for all mammalian nAChR subunits except a2, a4, g, and d in four different types of ECs. Using siRNA methodology, we found that the a7 nAChR plays a dominant role in nicotine-induced cell signaling (assessed by intracellular calcium and NO imaging, and studies of protein expression and phosphorylation), as well as nicotine-activated EC functions (proliferation, survival, migration, and tube formation). The a9 and a7 nAChRs have opposing effects on nicotine-induced cell proliferation and survival. Our studies reveal a critical role for the a7 nAChR in mediating the effects of nicotine on the endothelium. Other subunits play a modulatory role. These findings may have therapeutic implications for diseases characterized by
When to use Quantile Normalization

Normalization and preprocessing are essential steps for the analysis of high-throughput data including next-generation sequencing and microarrays. Multi-sample global normalization methods, such as quantile normalization, have been successfully used to remove technical variation from noisy data. These methods rely on the assumption that observed global changes across samples are due to unwanted technical variability. Transforming the data to remove these differences has the potential to remove interesting biologically driven global variation and therefore may not be appropriate depending on the type and source of variation. Currently, it is up to the subject matter experts, for example biologists, to determine if the stated assumptions are appropriate or not. Here, we propose a data-driven method to test for the assumptions of global normalization methods. We demonstrate the utility of our method ( quantro ), by applying it to multiple gene expression and DNA methylation and show examples of when global normalization methods are not appropriate. We also perform a Monte Carlo simulation study to illustrate how our method generally outperforms the current approach. An R-package implementing our method is available on Bioconductor (http://www.bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/quantro.html).
Compounding of ethylene-propylene polymers for electrical applications

Compounding is the technology of converting the raw rubber resin into useful materials through the addition of various ingredients. The resulting composition is called a compound. A typical compound usually has the following ingredients: ethylene-propylene rubber, filler/reinforcing agent(s), plasticizer, antioxidants/ stabilizers, flame retardants, process aids, ion scavenger coupling agent, curing coagent, and curative. Proper selection of the ingredient(s) in each category requires that consideration be given to the desired physical, electrical and environmental properties, as well as cost, ease of mixing, chemical stability and ease of processing. Frequently these considerations may require compromises in one characteristic in order to improve another. In the following discussion, factors to be considered in the proper choice of each ingredient for the compounding of ethylene-propylene polymers are explored. >
Qualitative Adaptive Critics

In this paper we compare the use of qualitative adaptive critics to traditional quantitative critics for the design of control systems. Our approach uses a qualitative implementation of the Bellman recursion to train critic and controller networks. This extends previous work with univariate plants to multivariate plants with multiple control objectives. The results indicate that the superior control achieved by more sophisticated model based adaptive critic methods is due to qualitatively more accurate estimates of the gradient of the secondary utility function as opposed to increased numerical precision.
Experimental and Computational Evidence of Highly Active Fe Impurity Sites on the Surface of Oxidized Au for the Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Water in Basic Media

Author(s): Klaus, S; Trotochaud, L; Cheng, MJ; Head-Gordon, M; Bell, AT | Abstract: Addition of Fe to Ni- and Co-based (oxy)hydroxides has been shown to enhance the activity of these materials for electrochemical oxygen evolution. Here we show that Fe cations bound to the surface of oxidized Au exhibit enhanced oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity. We find that the OER activity increases with increasing surface concentration of Fe. Density functional theory analysis of the OER energetics reveals that oxygen evolution over Fe cations bound to a hydroxyl-terminated oxidized Au (Fe-Au2O3) occurs at an overpotential ∼0.3V lower than over hydroxylated Au2O3 (0.82V). This finding agrees well with experimental observations and is a consequence of the more optimal binding energetics of OER reaction intermediates at Fe cations bound to the surface of Au2O3. These findings suggest that the enhanced OER activity reported recently upon low-potential cycling of Au may be due to surface Fe impurities rather than to "superactive" AuIII surfaquo species.
The Peptide-Receptive Transition State of MHC Class I Molecules: Insight from Structure and Molecular Dynamics

MHC class I (MHC-I) proteins of the adaptive immune system require antigenic peptides for maintenance of mature conformation and immune function via specific recognition by MHC-I–restricted CD8 + T lymphocytes. New MHC-I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum are held by chaperones in a peptide-receptive (PR) transition state pending release by tightly binding peptides. In this study, we show, by crystallographic, docking, and molecular dynamics methods, dramatic movement of a hinged unit containing a conserved 3 10 helix that flips from an exposed “open” position in the PR transition state to a “closed” position with buried hydrophobic side chains in the peptide-loaded mature molecule. Crystallography of hinged unit residues 46–53 of murine H-2L d MHC-I H chain, complexed with mAb 64-3-7, demonstrates solvent exposure of these residues in the PR conformation. Docking and molecular dynamics predict how this segment moves to help form the A and B pockets crucial for the tight peptide binding needed for stability of the mature peptide-loaded conformation, chaperone dissociation, and Ag presentation.
Providence, Chance and the New Science in Early Stuart Cambridge

In I 609 the puritan casuist William Ames, then a fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge, preached a sermon at the university church of St Mary the Great, as a result of which he spent the rest of his life in exile in the Netherlands. He described the sermon years later in a letter to Matthew Stoneham of Norwich as a spark which caused 'great fire here and smoke abroad'. The sermon, it seems, so incensed the master of Christ's, the conformist Anglican Valentine Cary, that Cary had Ames hauled up before the vice-chancellor's court, which deprived him of his academic degrees and of the privileges of his ecclesiastical order. Ames left the hostile environment of Cambridge first for a puritan-sponsored lectureship in the city church of Colchester. There, however, he was harassed and finally refused a licence by the bishop of London. He fled further persecution to the Low Countries in I6IO, and there he remained.' The sermon which caused all the fuss was never published, and until recently all we have known of the text is a fragment which fell into Thomas Fuller's hands.2 Fortunately, that, taken together with the vice-chancellor's court registers, allows identification of an anonymous, undated manuscript among the Samuel Ward papers at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, as containing much of the text of the sermon.3
Packet caches on routers: the implications of universal redundant traffic elimination

Many past systems have explored how to eliminate redundant transfers from network links and improve network efficiency. Several of these systems operate at the application layer, while the more recent systems operate on individual packets. A common aspect of these systems is that they apply to localized settings, e.g. at stub network access links. In this paper, we explore the benefits of deploying packet-level redundant content elimination as a universal primitive on all Internet routers. Such a universal deployment would immediately reduce link loads everywhere. However, we argue that far more significant network-wide benefits can be derived by redesigning network routing protocols to leverage the universal deployment. We develop "redundancy-aware" intra- and inter-domain routing algorithms and show that they enable better traffic engineering, reduce link usage costs, and enhance ISPs' responsiveness to traffic variations. In particular, employing redundancy elimination approaches across redundancy-aware routes can lower intra and inter-domain link loads by 10-50%. We also address key challenges that may hinder implementation of redundancy elimination on fast routers. Our current software router implementation can run at OC48 speeds.
The Politics of Self-Esteem

The notion of self-esteem resonates powerfully and is referred to frequently in American culture. Rhetorical connections between self-esteem and desirable educational policy are ubiquitous; promoting students’ self-esteem, particularly that of minority and poorly performing students, is a prime concern. Is this focus desirable? Before analysts can assess self-esteem as a goal for policy and practice, they must consider the ideological orientations of those who use the term and the cultural norms which shape the debate. The analysis and knowledge claims regarding self-esteem made by psychologists and political philosophers are of some value in this regard, but explicit attention to the politics surrounding self-esteem is needed to understand and evaluate the use of the concept in policy contexts.
Cross-sectional comparison of nerve conduction and vibration threshold testing: do screening tools for occupationally induced cumulative trauma disorders result in differing outcomes?

Purpose/Method : Early diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is essential for its effective treatment and subsequent reduction or prevention of the personal and economic losses associated with it. This paper describes a comparison of vibration threshold testing (VTT) and nerve conduction testing (NCT) within the same subjects. Results : Across age and diagnostic category there was little difference between VTT results and the NCT velocity measure in their ability to identify individuals with CTS. Conclusion : This is important because VTT is more easily administered and tolerated than NCT and can be used in general screening studies to identify potential CTS cases.
Status of the ETA-II linear induction accelerator: high brightness results

A two-aperture collimator has been used to measure the brightness of the electron beam produced by the injector and the first 20 acceleration cells of the ETA-II (Experimental Test Accelerator II) linear induction accelerator. Osmium alloy dispenser cathodes produce the electron beam. For accelerated currents up to 1.5 kA with 2.0- and 2.7-MeV beam energies, the measured brightness is 4*10/sup 9/ A/(rad-m)/sup 2/, exceeding the design goal by a factor of 2. At the highest current, 2.0 kA, a beam brightness of 2.6*10/sup 9/ A/(rad-m)/sup 2/ has been measured. >
Long Term Follow-up of Clinical Evaluations of Lathe-Cut Versus Spherical Amalgam

A spherical alloy was tested against a conventional lathe-cut amalgam in clinical trials. Results indicated that both alloys had comparable marginal breakdown rates. However, the three dentists who placed the restorations showed decided differences in marginal breakdown rates for their patients. Operator variable was the most significant finding.
An efficient, scalable content-based messaging system

Large-scale information processing environments must rapidly search through massive streams of raw data to locate useful information. These data streams contain textual and numeric data items, and may be highly structured or mostly freeform text. This project aims to create a high performance and scalable engine for locating relevant content in data streams. Based on the J2EE Java Messaging Service (JMS), the content-based messaging (CBM) engine provides highly efficient message formatting and filtering. This paper describes the design of the CBM engine, and presents empirical results that compare the performance with a standard JMS to demonstrate the performance improvements that are achieved.
The mock turtle syndrome: genetic identification of turtle meat purchased in the south‐eastern United States of America

Much of the demand for turtle meat in North America and Europe during the past four centuries has been met using green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and other marine turtles. As stocks of marine turtles dwindled, harvest of the alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii), the largest freshwater turtle in North America, increased in the south-eastern USA. As a result, this species has declined and is now protected in every state of the USA except Louisiana. There is concern that the remaining legal trade in turtle products may serve as a cover for illegally harvested species. To assess the composition of species in commerce, we purchased 36 putative turtle meat products in Louisiana and Florida. Using cytochrome b and control region sequences of the mitochondrial genome, we identified 19 samples as common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), three as Florida softshell (Apalone ferox), one provisionally as softshell turtle (Apalone sp.), one as alligator snapping turtle, and eight as American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). It appears that M. temminckii is no longer the predominant species in markets of Louisiana. The presence of alligator meat in a quarter of the samples indicates that the trade in turtle products is not entirely legitimate. As is often the case for unsustainable wildlife harvests, large, esteemed species, such as green turtle and alligator snapper, have been replaced by smaller, more-abundant or mislabelled species, a phenomenon we refer to as the mock turtle syndrome.
Muscle fiber type specific activation of the slow myosin heavy chain 2 promoter by a non-canonical E-box

Different mechanisms control skeletal muscle fiber type gene expression at specific times in vertebrate development. Embryonic myogenesis leading to formation of primary muscle fibers in avian species is largely directed by myoblast cell commitment to the formation of diverse fiber types. In contrast, development of different secondary fiber types during fetal myogenesis is partly determined by neural influences. In both primary and secondary chicken muscle fibers, differential expression of the slow myosin heavy chain 2 (MyHC2) gene distinguishes fast from fast/slow muscle fibers. This study focused on the transcriptional regulation of the slow MyHC2 gene in primary myotubes formed from distinct fast/slow and fast myogenic cell lineages. Promoter deletion analyses identified a discrete 86 bp promoter segment that conferred fiber type, lineage-specific gene expression in fast/slow versus fast myoblast derived primary myotubes. Sequence analysis and promoter activity assays determined that this segment contains two functional cis-regulatory elements. One element is a non-canonical E-box, and electromobility shift assays demonstrated that both cis-elements interacted with the E-protein, E47. The results indicate that primary muscle fiber type specific expression of the slow MyHC2 gene is controlled by a novel mechanism involving a transcriptional complex that includes E47 at a non-canonical E-box.
Training a "New" Consciousness

A revised consciousness of the altered landscape of governing and governed is offered. PROLOGUE Application of business management technologies in the public sec tor increases its capacity to measure outputs, at the cost of diminished focus on less easily measurable outcomes. Governance theory as ap plied to public organizations can be enhanced through further attention to outcome-oriented concepts such as civic engagement and the quality of democratic institutions. Improved efficacy and equity in practice con sistently rank equal to economic efficiency among the putative goals in studying and theorizing about government practice. Theories of scien tific and rational management of administrative tasks informed the ear liest stream of bureaucracy-bound students, but shortcomings of these approaches led to the modifications of satisficing strategy associated with Simon's bounded rationality and the excused incrementalism of Lindblom's muddling. The diffusion of critical theory into the accretive field of public administration introduced criticisms of the status quo in administrative theory, creating opportunities for fresh approaches, al beit not universally accepted or appreciated. A revised consciousness of the altering landscape of governing and governed is offered here as a contribution to governance theory. Guidelines for creating a more im aginative and rigorously critical consciousness in the post-traditional public workforce map to three strategies proposed in Farmer (2005): "thinking as play," "justice as seeking," and "practice as art." Pragmatic examples of these can be incorporated within public policy or public management curricula as cases, simulations, or practica. However, risks to faculty seeking to research, teach, and serve according to non-tradi tional and supra-logical constructs likely will slow any general adoption in the U.S., despite societal dangers to democratic polity associated with failure of public imagination.
Degradation of Polymers

Abstract Recent literature pertaining to both the theoretical aspects and experimental results of the degradation of polymers by heat and radiation is reviewed and critically evaluated. Theories of random and chain thermal degradation of vinyl polymers and co-polymers are reviewed. The degradation of polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, poly-α-methylstyrene, polyolefins, polystyrene, other vinyl polymers, cellulose, polyesters, polyamides, dienes, natural rubber, and copolymers are discussed in the light of these theories. The thermodynamics and energetics of the degradation of these polymers is also reviewed. Chain scission, crosslinking, and gel formation and the kinetic mechanisms of these processes which take place during degradation of polymers by ionizing radiation and ultraviolet light are included. Degradative, rather than synthetic, effects are emphasized in the discussion.
Excitation Characteristics of Magnetic Polaritons on Grating/Thin-Film Nanostructure

RCWA method is employed to analyze excitation characteristics of magnetic polaritons(MPs) on grating/thin-film.In this work,we study the effects of 2D and 3D grating/thin-film nanostructures on wavelength-selective of TPV emitter.Parameter studies on the emissivity are performed by changing material,incident angle,polarization and grating dimension.Furthermore,the geometric parameters and the property parameters on MPs are obtained in this paper.This nanostructure has potential applications in solar cells,thermophotovoltaic(TPV) devices,and radiation emitters.
Similarity of Private Keyword Search over Encrypted Document Collection

Abstract Due to its cost-efficiency, flexibility, and offload of administrative overhead, cloud computing has become a viable option for organizations to outsource their data and services. To protect data confidentiality, sensitive data need to be encrypted before outsourced to a cloud. In such case, the task of query processing over encrypted data becomes not trivial. A typical example is a private keyword search where a collection of encrypted documents is stored on a cloud and a user retrieves a subset of documents from the collection containing a given set of keywords. In the process, the set of keywords and the original documents are never disclosed to the cloud. To solve this problem, many schemes have been proposed to allow users to securely search over encrypted document collection through exact and similarity keyword matching. In this chapter, we provided a comprehensive literature survey on the existing schemes of private keyword search.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic polysymptomatic syndrome whose core symptom is the subjective experience of illness from low level exposures to environmental chemicals that most people find neutral or nontoxic. MCS overlaps with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as Gulf War I Syndrome, in clinical presentation. Women in mid-life constitute the majority of affected individuals. Comorbidities include rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, migraine headache, irritable bowel, multiple food intolerances, arthritis, and anxiety and affective disorders. Leading proposed mechanisms for which human and animal data exist include time-dependent sensitization and neurogenic inflammation. Skeptics of MCS focus on a dualistic model in which symptoms are presumed psychogenic, imagined, or misattributed. Current treatments are limited, but recent studies suggest that a pragmatic, multidisciplinary, clinical package of care including chemical avoidance, elimination diets, tolerated nutritional supplementation, and mind-body interventions such as mindfulness meditation can be helpful and cost-effective. Additional systematic research on MCS will facilitate better understanding of this likely heterogeneous condition with different initiating etiologies and overlapping endpoint phenomenologies.
Towards availability benchmarks: a case study of software raid systems

Benchmarks have historically played a key role in guiding the progress of computer science systems research and development, but have traditionally neglected the areas of availability, maintainability, and evolutionary growth, areas that have recently become critically important in high-end system design. As a first step in addressing this deficiency, we introduce a general methodology for benchmarking the availability of computer systems. Our methodology uses fault injection to provoke situations where availability may be compromised, leverages existing performance benchmarks for workload generation and data collection, and can produce results in both detail-rich graphical presentations or in distilled numerical summaries. We apply the methodology to measure the availability of the software RAID systems shipped with Linux, Solaris 7 Server, and Windows 2000 Server, and find that the methodology is powerful enough not only to quantify the impact of various failure conditions on the availability of these systems, but also to unearth their design philosophies with respect to transient errors and recovery policy.
Technology and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support: Evaluation, Selection, and Implementation of Computer-Based Socioemotional Training

Abstract Children’s socioemotional and behavioral development comprises the foundation for school-based mental health services; however, many teachers lack knowledge of specific techniques to help children in these areas ( Baker, 1999 ). This chapter introduces the use of a common school-based design, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS; OSEP, 2009), as a vehicle to provide effective socioemotional and behavioral services. In addition, the chapter investigates challenges endemic to integrating technology-based intervention tools into this PBIS framework. Specifically, the authors critique technology-based interventions as well as provide methods to review and critique technology-based, socioemotional and behavioral programs.
Draba bruce-bennettii (Brassicaceae), a Remarkable New Species from Yukon Territory, Canada

Abstract. Draba bruce-bennettii (Brassicaceae), a new species from Yukon (Canada), is described and illustrated. It is easily distinguished from the closely related to D. aleutica and D. macounii by having linear to linear-oblanceolate basal leaves pubescent adaxially with simple trichomes and abaxially with 2–4-rayed forked trichomes, oblong fruit pubescent with simple and forked trichomes, fruiting pedicels pilose with simple trichomes, and yellow, obovate petals 5-6.5 × 2.5-3.2 mm.
Transference: the seminar of Jacques Lacan, Book VIII

Given the sprawling and unwieldy nature of Lacan’s recently translated eight seminar, Transference, I have opted to focus here on one selection from the broader text, namely, Lacan’s discussion of ...
Hyperspectral analysis, the support vector machine, and land and benthic habitats

Two different areas of current research in hyperspectral remote sensing are addressed: (1) supervised learning using all the hyperspectral bands as based on the recently introduced method called the support vector machine. (2) Hyperspectral remote sensing in shallow water to retrieve benthic properties including depth and albedo on the sea floor. The support vector technique is applied to land agricultural scenes acquired by AVIRIS with up to 16 classes, and is shown to give improved results over a number of methods all applied to the same scene. Hyperspectral remote sensing in shallow water is demonstrated on an AVIRIS scene acquired in Kaneohe Bay Hawaii, where reasonable depths and bottom albedos are retrieved. The method is based on physical modeling of the propagation of light though the atmosphere and physical modeling of the propagation of light through the water column above the sea floor. The results for shallow water remote sensing are extended by a physically realistic simulation using AVIRIS at-sensor data to model cases of spatial resolution and signal to noise ratios that might exist for a hyperspectral sensor in geostationary orbit.
Multi-Class "Channel+Beam" Handoff in Cognitive Radio Networks with Multi-Beam Smart Antennas

In this paper, we propose the concept of "channel+ beam" hando2642 (CBH) in cognitive radio networks (CRNs) with multi-beam smart antennas (MBSAs). We address the multi-class spectrum hando2642 issue, based on the user priority, by using the mixed Preemptive/Non-Preemptive M/G/1 queueing model with discretion rule. The discretion rule sets the threshold for the preemption of the low-priority secondary users (SUs) based on the remaining service time. Since each beam of the MBSA can use a di2642erent CRN channel, we design a delay-constrained CBH scheme in which the packets in the interrupted beam can be detoured through neighboring beams. The probability of beam hando2642 is determined based on their channel capacity and bu2642er fullness of the queue associated with the neighboring beams. By using the CBH model with discretion rule, a low priority SU can escape from multiple interruptions during the completion of its service. Our simulation results show that the mixed queueing model with discretion rule reduces the queueing delay (i.e., hando2642 delay) of the high priority SUs, and the packet detouring scheme gives fair spectrum access opportunities to the low priority SUs.