cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Product market competition and human resource practices in the retail food sector

In the wake of Wal-Mart and other mass merchandisers’ entry into food retailing, the nature of competition in the industry has changed radically. Using longitudinal data on workers and firms to construct measures of compensation and churning for traditional food retailers, this paper examines how these measures change in response to mass merchandiser entry. While there is considerable heterogeneity across retail food establishments, human resource practices are persistent even in the face of new external competition.
Hierarchical domain adaptation for SEMG signal classification across multiple subjects

Large variations in Surface Electromyogram (SEMG) signal across different subjects make the process of automated signal classification as a generalized tool, challenging. In this paper, we propose a domain adaptation methodology that addresses this challenge. In particular we propose a hierarchical sample selection methodology, that selects samples from multiple training subjects, based on their similarity with the target subject at different levels of granularity. We have validated our framework on SEMG data collected from 8 people during a fatiguing exercise. Comprehensive experiments conducted in the paper demonstrate that the proposed method improves the subject independent classification accuracy by 21% to 23% over the cases without domain adaptation methods and by 14% to 20% over the existing state-of-the-art domain adaptation methods.
On a class of nonlinear fourth order differential equations

In this paper we study the nonlinear fourth order differentiai equation uiv±F(u, v)u=0, where F is a pssitive monotone function of u. Asymptotic behaviour of certain solutions are treated in sections 2 and 4 while a two point boundary value problem is studied in section 3.
Developmentally Programmed Rearrangement of T Cell Receptor Vγ Genes Is Controlled by Sequences Immediately Upstream of the Vγ Genes

Distinct subsets of gammadelta T cells expressing different Vgamma and Vdelta chains arise in ordered waves during thymic development. In the murine Jgamma1-Cgamma1 cluster, the Vgamma3 gene segment is utilized earliest in fetal thymic development, in progenitors of dendritic epidermal T cells (DECs). The Vgamma2 gene segment predominates in the late fetal stages and beyond, in cells destined for the secondary lymphoid organs. Using transgenic TCRgamma recombination substrates, we demonstrate that this restricted Vgamma gene usage is determined by developmentally targeted gene rearrangement. We show that sequences immediately upstream of the Vgamma2 and Vgamma3 genes direct the rearrangement pattern in adult thymocytes. Thus, the choice of Vgamma gene for recombination is coordinated with distinct differentiation programs in gammadelta subsets.
Tracer microspheres as compliance markers in clinical research.

Abstract Tracer microspheres are small, ceramic-like particles (50 μm) containing one of several radionuclide markers. We have utilized them over a period of 9 years as quantitative fecal markers for recovery measurements in metabolic studies. The markers have been administered daily for up to 2 weeks, during which time the marker concentration per unit dry weight of feces remains fairly constant. Data on the markers and our experience with them are presented along with the concerns that must be addressed in considering them as compliance markers.
Software faults, software failures and software reliability modeling

Abstract As our understanding of the software development process improves, it is becoming clear that embedded faults are not placed in the software by random processes known only to nature. The location of these faults is closely related to measurable software complexity attributes. This paper describes the processes whereby software complexity metrics may be used to identify regions of software that are fault prone. This information is then exploited to develop a model of dynamic program complexity for the identification of failure prone software. Based on this new look at dynamic program complexity and software failures three areas of interest in software reliability will be examined. First, a new statistical testing methodology will be defined. The specific objectives for software test under statistical testing procedures will be defined. Second, the specific characteristics of software for use in software reliability modeling will be discussed. The use of dynamic complexity and failure models will be incorporated into a software reliability model. Finally, once the characteristics of software faults and failures are modeled, two degrees of freedom in the software design process are identified representing an initial step in the mathematical specification of software design objectives. Supporting current research experiences from an ongoing research project on the Space Shuttle Primary Avionics Software System will be discussed.
Improving early outcomes following hybrid procedure for patients with single ventricle and systemic outflow obstruction: defining risk factors†.

OBJECTIVES: The hybrid procedure has become an accepted management strategy for patients with single ventricle and systemic outflow obstruction (SVSOO), particularly those considered at high risk for mortality following Stage I Norwood. We sought to refine patient selection by identifying clinical variables associated with early mortality. METHODS: Single-centre review of all patients with SVSOO undergoing a hybrid procedure between January 2003 and December 2012. Demographic, clinical and outcome data were collected from the electronic medical record. The primary outcome was operative mortality (mortality within 30 days of the operation or prior to hospital discharge). RESULTS: Thirty-four patients underwent hybrid palliation at a median age of 5 days (IQR 3–8.5) and a median weight of 2.5 kg (IQR 2.2– 2.9). Aortic atresia was present in 13 of 34 patients. Emergency banding for resuscitation was performed in 8 cases. Subsequent procedures included Stage I Norwood in 14, combined Stage I and II Norwood in 8, biventricular repair in 3 and cardiac transplantation in 2. Median cardiac intensive care unit length of stay was 54 days (IQR 27–92). Seven patients had no subsequent procedure. There were 11 operative deaths. Non-modifiable patient-related factors had a significant association with operative mortality, including weight under 2.0 kg (OR 18; 95% CI 1.8–188.3, P= 0.0008) and aortic atresia (OR 6.1; 95% CI 1.2–30.1, P= 0.026). Most significant was the interaction between aortic atresia and weight under 2.0 kg on early mortality (OR 13.1; 95% CI 1.9–92 P= 0.0039). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of aortic atresia (OR 13.4; 95% CI 1.2–151) and a birthweight of 2.0 kg or less (OR 51; 95% CI 2.4–999) were also significant predictors of operative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Non-modifiable patient-related factors have a profound effect on early survival following a hybrid procedure for SVSOO. Outcomes for patients under 2.0 kg with aortic atresia remain very poor. Risk stratification should inform management decisions.
Supported iridium oxide films in aqueous electrolytes: Charge injection dynamics as monitored by time-resolved differential reflectance spectroscopy

Dynamic aspects of the electrochemical charge-discharge of hydrated Ir oxide, IrC x (hyd), films in aqueous 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 have been investigated by simultaneous chronocoulometry and time-resolved, normal incidence (λ = 633 nm) differential reflectance spectroscopy, ΔR/R. Experiments were performed by applying potential steps between two judiciously selected values to IrO x (hyd) films electrodeposited on smooth Au disk microelectrodes to reduce the overall time constant of the cell. The analysis of the results obtained revealed that the rate at which charge is injected into or released from the film, as determined from the chronocoulometric response, is faster than the rate at which Ir sites in the lattice undergo redox transitions, as monitored by AR/R. This behavior appears consistent with the relatively high electronic conductivity of IrC x (hyd), which allows for charge to be stored on the highly convoluted surface of this structurally disorganized material, i.e., strictly capacitive, a process that occurs in parallel and at much higher rates than changes in the oxidation state of the Ir sites, i.e., pseudocapacitive.
Estimating the number of vasectomies performed annually in the United States: data from the National Survey of Family Growth

Purpose: While hospital discharge and ambulatory surgery registries provide accurate estimates of female sterilization procedures, current estimates of male sterilization rates are lacking since th...
Blood pressure-renal blood flow relationships in conscious angiotensin II- and phenylephrine-infused rats

Chronic ANG II infusion in rodents is widely used as an experimental model of hypertension, yet very limited data are available describing the resulting blood pressure-renal blood flow (BP-RBF) rel...
Koenigs problem and extreme fixed points

This note continues some previous studies by the authors. We consider a linear-fractional mapping \( F_A :K \to K \) generated by a triangular operator, where \( K \) is the unit operator ball and the fixed point C of the extension of \( F_A \) to \( \overline K \) is either an isometry or a coisometry. Under some natural restrictions on one of the diagonal entries of the operator matrix A, the structure of the other diagonal entry is investigated completely. It is shown that generally C cannot be replaced in all these considerations by an arbitrary point of the unit sphere. Some special cases are studied in which this is nevertheless possible.
Group composition, salience, and cognitive representations: The phenomenology of being in a group.

Abstract A series of meta-analytic integrations is summarized, and a perspective on what it is like to be a member of a group is described. Proportionate group sizes are demonstrated to predict the magnitude of a variety of effects at the interface between social cognition and group processes. Self-focused attention, the participation-leadership effect, social projection, ingroup bias, relative heterogeneity, and binocular resolution effects are all demonstrated to vary in predictable ways as a function of proportionate group sizes. These patterns link group composition to salience of ingroup and outgroup, and to prototype or exemplar representation of information about the ingroup or the outgroup. Discussion considers implications of this model of the phenomenology of being in a group.
Cardiovascular injury induced by sympathetic catecholamines

Abstract The damaging effect of sympathetic catecholamines on the cardiovascular system is reviewed. The catecholamines in high dose cause diffuse necrotic lesions in the myocardium with accompanying inflammation and subsequent fibrous scarring. This can be readily demonstrated in the experimental animal. The clinical counterpart is seen in patients dying after prolonged treatment with norepinephrine and among patients dying with pheochromocytoma. The various theories suggested to explain this phenomenon are presented, and the recent data that suggests that intravascular platelet aggregation is of etiologic importance is reviewed. The possible relation of these effects of catecholamines to myocardial infarction that occurs during stress is discussed. High doses of catecholamines cause medial necrosis, destruction of the elastic lamellae, and atrophic scarring of the walls of large vessels. The relationship of this lesion and other effects of catecholamines to atherosclerosis is reviewed.
Elasto-plastic finite element analyses of a soil-structure system under earthquake excitations

Abstract A series of centrifuge model experiments were carried out with the objective of studying the response of a pile-supported, two-storey structure under earthquake base shaking. In addition to the soil-structure interaction studies, model experiments were also carried out on the foundation soil with no superstructure, and on the superstructure fixed at the level of the pile cap. The observed responses are used in this paper to verify a two-dimensional, elasto-plastic finite element procedure. The numerical results are found to compare reasonably well with the experimental data.
Inelastic deformation in polymers under multiaxial compression

Inelastic deformation in polymers under large deformation istypically accompanied by instabilities. These instabilities can beassociated with shear banding, barreling, buckling, etc., and canprevent complete characterization of the constitutive behavior. In thispaper, we present an experimental configuration where polymers can besubjected to large homogeneous deformations. The design and operation ofthe confined compression apparatus is described. Using the apparatus, itis shown that the nonlinear pressure-volume response can be extractedfor pressures as high as 1 GPa. The shear response is also extractedfrom the same experimental data; it is shown that for two polymers,polycarbonate and polymethylmethacrylate, the stress drop observed inuniaxial tests may not represent an intrinsic material property and,further, that by applying high confining pressures plastic deformationmay be suppressed completely.
Image sequence coding using the zero-tree method

A simple yet effective image sequence coding technique based on the zero-tree method is studied. The frames of the image sequence are decomposed hierarchically into 5 levels and motion compensation is performed on each subband separately. The displaced frame difference (DFD) is then encoded using the zero-tree method. Simulations done on the first 60 frames of the Miss America sequence using backward motion compensation with pel recursive motion estimation technique have yielded an average PSNR of 40.52 dB at a rate of 0.3 bpp and 43.68 dB at 1.0 bpp. This technique has the advantage that it works well with most images as no training set is required. There is precise control of the coding rate and the transmission is progressive.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mechanisms of regulation of liver fatty acid-binding protein

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) expression is modulated by developmental, hormonal, dietary, and pharmacological factors. The most pronounced induction is seen after treatment with peroxisome proliferators, which induce L-FABP coordinately with microsomal cytochrome P-450 4A1 and the enzymes of peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation. These effects of peroxisome proliferators may be mediated by a receptor which has been shown to be activated by peroxisome proliferators in mammalian cell transfection studies. However, the peroxisome proliferators tested thus far do not bind to this receptor, known as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), and its endogenous ligand(s) also remain unknown. Peroxisome proliferators inhibit mitochondrial β-oxidation, and one hypothesis is that the dicarboxylic fatty acid metabolites of accumulated LCFA, formed via the P-450 4A1 ω-oxidation pathway, serve as primary inducers of L-FABP and peroxisomal β-oxidation. We have tested this hypothesis in primary hepatocyte cultures exposed to clofibrate (CF). Inhibition of P-450 4A1 markedly diminished, via a pre-translational mechanism, the CF induction of L-FABP and peroxisomal β-oxidation. In further experiments, long-chain dicarboxylic acids, the final products of the P-450 4A1 ω-oxidation pathway, but not LCFA, induced L-FABP and peroxisomal β-oxidation pre-translationally. These results suggest a role, in part, for long-chain dicarboxylic acids in mediating the peroxisome proliferator induction of L-FABP and peroxisomal β-oxidation. We also found that LCFA, which undergo rapid hepatocellular metabolism, could become inducers of L-FABP and peroxisomal β-oxidation under conditions where their metabolism was inhibited. The role of the PPAR in mediating these effects is unknown, but clearly warrants further study. The induction of L-FABP and peroxisomal β-oxidation by LCFA and/or their ω-oxidized metabolites may provide a means for limiting the deleterious effects of increased intracellular concentrations of free LCFA, and thus act as an important hepatocellular adaptation to impairment or overload of mitochondrial LCFA oxidation.
Defining Best Practices in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Metadata

The University of New Mexico will mandate in 2009 that theses and dissertations be submitted in electronic form as the copy of record. These documents will reside in the university's digital repository, operated on a DSpace platform. This article reviews practices for thesis and dissertation metadata creation with a focus on DSpace instances, best practice recommendations for author-submitted metadata, recommendations for subject analysis, and training for metadata practitioners. The article recommends processes for author submission, metadata quality control and enhancement, and crosswalking of the metadata to the library's catalog to maximize discovery.
How well does result relevance predict session satisfaction

Per-query relevance measures provide standardized, repeatable measurements of search result quality, but they ignore much of what users actually experience in a full search session. This paper examines how well we can approximate a user's ultimate session-level satisfaction using a simple relevance metric. We find that thisrelationship is surprisingly strong. By incorporating additional properties of the query itself, we construct a model which predicts user satisfaction even more accurately than relevance alone.
SU-E-T-675: The Effect of Diaphragm Motion to Dose Calculation During Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) Treatment of Spine Lesions Located at the Superior-Inferior Level of the Diaphragm

Purpose: To investigate the effect of respiratory motion on dose calculation during stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatment of spine lesions located at the level of diaphragm. Methods: Helical and four‐dimensional (4D) CT data sets of four patients were used for this study. The 4D sets were binned using 10 respiratory phases (0%–90%) and an average CT was reconstructed from the 4D CT sets. The recorded diaphragm motions were 0.8cm, 1.2cm, 1.4cm, and 1.7cm respectively. The helical CT might represent an arbitrary respiratory phase. The 0% and 50 % CT represent the inhale and exhale phases respectively. One vertebral body (PTV) and the thecal sac at the superior‐inferior level of diaphragm were contoured on the average CT. An SBRT plan, using Rapid Arc, was generated for the average CT. The prescribed dose to the PTV was 24Gy in 3 fractions using V24Gy=95%. The plan was next copied to each of the 10 CT sets for dose calculation. The dose‐volume parameters Dmax and D95% for PTV, and Dmax, D0.25cc, D1.2cc for thecal sac at each respiratory phase CT were compared with those obtained from the average CT. 'Results: The variations of dosimetric parameters for each phase of 4D‐CT relative to the average CT demonstrate similar respiratory shapes. For case #1, all phases, the thecal sac Dmax are higher than that of average CT, and the D0.25cc of thecal sac are lower compared to average CT. For case #4, the thecal sac Dmax for all phases are lower compared with average CT. In this case, the Dmax of thecal sac calculated on the helical CT might be underestimated by 7.3%. Conclusion: Planning on helical CT for spine SBRT at the level of diaphragm might introduce deviations to the thecal sac dose. In such cases, the average CT should be used for dose calculation.
Isolation of viable cancer cells in antibody-functionalized microfluidic devices

Microfluidic devices functionalized with EpCAM antibodies were utilized for the capture of target cancer cells representing circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The fraction of cancer cells captured from homogeneous suspensions is mainly a function of flow shear rate, and can be described by an exponential function. A characteristic shear rate emerges as the most dominant parameter affecting the cell attachment ratio. Utilizing this characteristic shear rate as a scaling factor, all attachment ratio results for various combinations of receptor and ligand densities collapsed onto a single curve described by the empirical formula. The characteristic shear rate increases with both cell-receptor and surface-ligand densities, and empirical formulae featuring a product of two independent cumulative distributions described well these relationships. The minimum detection limit in isolation of target cancer cells from binary mixtures was experimentally explored utilizing microchannel arrays that allow high-throughput processing of suspensions about 0.5 ml in volume, which are clinically relevant, within a short time. Under a two-step attachment/detachment flow rate, both high sensitivity (almost 1.0) and high specificity (about 0.985) can be achieved in isolating target cancer cells from binary mixtures even for the lowest target/non-target cell concentration ratio of 1:100 000; this is a realistic ratio between CTCs and white blood cells in blood of cancer patients. Detection of CTCs from blood samples was also demonstrated using whole blood from healthy donors spiked with cancer cells. Finally, the viability of target cancer cells released after capture was confirmed by observing continuous cell growth in culture.
Slonczewski spin-torque as negative damping: Fokker–Planck computation of energy distribution

Abstract In this paper we study the application of the Fokker–Planck (FP) equation to the dynamics of a thin-film element subject to a current-induced spin torque. We use a recently derived FP equation for the energy distribution to find an exact non-equilibrium steady state of the spin-torque system. In the present paper we verify this distribution by Landau–Lifshitz simulation including the Slonczewski form of the spin torque. We find that the exact distribution can be expressed in terms of an energy-dependent effective temperature T eff ( E ) , which turns out to be roughly constant, thus providing a precise foundation for heuristic “effective spin temperature” viewpoints.
A review of physical activity interventions on determinants of mental health in children and adolescents

The purpose of this article was to review the effects of physical activity (PA) lifestyle intervention on determinants of mental health among children and adolescents. A search was performed using the databases Academic Search Premier, CINHAL, EBSCOHost, PsycARTICLES and PsycINFO. Inclusion criteria were studies that utilized PA interventions designed to impact a determinant of mental health in a target population of 6–18 years. From this search, 537 results were identified and eight met the inclusion criteria. All studies reported an inverse relationship between PA and depression. Seven found a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in depression when various aerobic and/or resistance training exercises were introduced. Only one study found a negative correlation between very light intensity activity and determinants of psychological health (e.g. depression and anxiety); however, these results were not statistically significant. In conclusion, promoting PA appears to improve determinants of mental health, such...
Affinity of Ceftaroline and Other β-Lactams for Penicillin-Binding Proteins from Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae

We compared the affinities of ceftaroline for all penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) with those of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime in 6 Staphylococcus aureus and 7 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates with various resistance phenotypes. Ceftaroline MICs were ≤1 μg/ml against all S. aureus isolates and were ≤0.25 μg/ml for 4 of 7 isolates of S. pneumoniae. Ceftaroline affinities for penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae strains were in the order PBP2X and -3 > PBP1A, -1B, and -2A > PBP2B, and ceftaroline had ≥4-fold higher 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) (0.1 to 4 μg/ml) for PBP2X, -2A, -2B, and -3 than those for the other cephalosporins tested. Among 3 penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains, ceftaroline had a high affinity for PBP2X (IC50, 0.1 to 1 μg/ml), a primary target for cephalosporin PBP binding activity, and high affinities for PBP2B (IC50, 0.5 to 4 μg/ml) and PBP1A (IC50, 0.125 to 0.25 μg/ml) as well, both of which are also known as major targets for PBP binding activity of cephalosporins. Ceftaroline PBP affinities in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strains were greater than or equal to those of the 3 other β-lactams tested. Ceftaroline bound to PBP2a in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (IC50, 0.01 to 1 μg/ml) with up to 256-fold-higher affinity than those of other agents. Ceftaroline demonstrated very good PBP affinity against all S. aureus and S. pneumoniae strains tested, including resistant isolates.
Light Extraction of Organic Light Emitting Diodes by Defective Hexagonal-Close-Packed Array

Defective silica sphere arrays having locally hexagonal-closed-packed structure but lack of long range ordering were incorporated into organic light emitting diodes as grating to extract the waveguided light trapped in the indium tin oxide/organic layers and the glass substrate. Using these defective hexagonal-closed-packed gratings for light extraction, broad band lambertian emitters are obtained due to the periodicity broadening and the random orientation in the gratings, resulting in enhancements in current and power efficiencies by a factor of 1.7 and 1.9, respectively.
Evaporative depolarization and spin transport in a unitary trapped Fermi gas

We consider a partially spin-polarized atomic Fermi gas in a high-aspect-ratio trap, with a flux of predominantly spin-up atoms exiting the center of the trap. We argue that such a scenario can be produced by evaporative cooling, and we find that it can result in a substantially nonequilibrium polarization pattern for typical experimental parameters. We offer this as a possible explanation for the quantitative discrepancies in recent experiments on spin-imbalanced unitary Fermi gases.
Human Papillomavirus in Infants: Transmission, Prevalence, and Persistence

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is very common in reproductive age women. It has been demonstrated that this infection can be transmitted from mother to infant. Evidence of HPV infection can be seen in infant and toddlers. A review of the literate was undertaken to examine the manner in which HPV can be transmitted, the rate at which transmission occurs, and if HPV can persist. The manifestations of HPV were also reviewed. It is not clear what effect the quadravalent HPV vaccine, given to mothers will have on HPV infections in infants.
Simulations of the effect of diblock surfactant spacer molecules on micelle structure and function

A simple model for surfactants in solution is used to investigate the effect of diblock spacer molecules on the structure of micellar systems. The solvent is modeled by a simple Lennard-Jones fluid and the surfactants and spacer molecules are modeled by chains of Lennard-Hones sites connected by simple harmonic bonds. The surfactant is modeled as a solventphobic tail attached to a single solventphilic head site; the spacer is modeled as a solventphobic tail attached to a chain of solventphilic head sites. Molecular dynamics simulations on large systems ({approximately}40 000 particles) are performed to investigate the properties of the model. The strength of the interaction between the solventphilic portion of the spacer and the solvent and the effect of the length of both the solventphobic and the solventphilic portions of the spacer on the structure of the micelle solution are investigated. The simulations suggest that for the spacer to keep micelles apart, the interaction between the solvent and solventphilic portion of the spacer must be fairly strong. Weak interactions between the solventphilic portion of the spacer and the solvent cause the spacer to collapse on the surface of the micelle.
HIV and AIDS in the adolescent and adult: an update for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are among the most complex disease states in existence. HIV, AIDS, and their treatments have the potential to affect every system in the body, consequently influencing the oral surgery care of these patients. Additionally, patients often present to dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons with an oral lesion which may be an intial sign of HIV disease or evidence of worsening HIV disease. This article will provide an in-depth review of the pathogenesis of HIV, its systemic complications, antiretroviral therapies, and the oral manifestations of HIV and AIDS.
Blockade of alcohol-induced locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference in DBA mice by 7-nitroindazole.

Our previous studies indicated that inhibition or ablation of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) prevents the development of sensitization to the locomotor-stimulating effect of cocaine and cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the nNOS inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), on ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization and CPP in DBA/2J mice. Administration of ethanol (1.5 g/kg; i.p.) for 7 days resulted in a progressive increase in the locomotor-stimulating effect of ethanol. Pretreatment with 7-NI (25 mg/kg) blocked the expression of the sensitized response to ethanol. A challenge injection of ethanol given 1 week and then 4 weeks following withdrawal from ethanol indicated that (a) ethanol sensitization was long lasting, and (b) the co-administration of 7-NI and ethanol attenuated the sensitized response to ethanol challenge. The CPP experiments showed that pairing four ethanol (2.5 g/kg) injections with a specific environment resulted in a marked preference for the drug-paired environment. The pretreatment with 7-NI (25 mg/kg) completely blocked ethanol-induced CPP. 7-NI alone produced neither rewarding nor aversive effects. Taken together, results of the present study indicate that blockade of nNOS by 7-NI-attenuated ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization and completely blocked the rewarding effect of ethanol. These findings support the role of NO in ethanol actions and further suggest that the nNOS system is relevant to the rewarding effects of various drugs of abuse.
Deforestation, land use, and women's agricultural activities in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract Migrant women's participation in agricultural activities in the Ecuadorian Amazon frontier is examined using 1990 household survey data. A recursive model is developed to test women's participation in agriculture as a function of household's land use and land area cleared (deforested), women's characteristics, use of hired labor, and household income. Results suggest that both hired labor and off-farm income “substitute” for women's labor in agriculture. Women who have more young children are more likely to be involved in agriculture. Conversely, women are less likely to work in agriculture the larger the proportion of the cleared area in pasture versus crops, partly because raising cattle requires less labor than crops. Some implications of these results for policies to develop the frontier, provide better infrastructure and services, and conserve the rainforest are discussed in the conclusion, and suggestions are provided for improved future data collection and analysis to examine the linkages between women's work, frontier agriculture and land use.
Reliability of echocardiography in quantitating pericardial effusion: A prospective study

A method of estimating the volume of pericardial effusion by echocardiography has used the difference between the cubed diameters at end-diastole of the pericardium and epicardium. To evaluate the reliability of this technique in quantitating the volume of pericardial effusion in a prospective study, 22 echocardiograms were obtained in six patients before and after 11 separate pericardiocenteses. The correlation coefficient between the actual volume of aspirated pericardial effusion and the echocardiographically estimated volume of aspirated pericardial effusion was r = 0.27 (P not significant). The volume of pericardial effusion aspirated was overestimated or underestimated by echocardiography by more than 100 ml in seven of 11 estimations (64 percent) and by more than 150 ml in five of 11 estimations (45 percent). Therefore, although echocardiography is the procedure of choice in diagnosing the presence of pericardial effusion, it is not an entirely accurate method of quantitating the volume of pericardial effusion. However, echocardiography can differentiate a large effusion from a moderate or small effusion.
An estimation of the mechanical stress in nickel electrode sinter and its implications for nickel electrode construction

Abstract The mechanical stresses existing in the sinter of nickel electrodes are estimated by comparing the deterioration of the electrode during cycling with nickel fatigue data. The results indicate that at least 30% of the sinter is subject to work hardening prior to failure by fatigue. Ten per cent. of the sinter is stressed at substantially higher levels than the remainder and fails within 200 discharge cycles. It is suggested that a nickel alloy that has less severe work hardening characteristics would benefit the electrode's cycling behavior. Also, the incorporation of a “Shear free” current collector into the electrode is suggested as a means of extending cycle life.
Implications of Convective Quasi-Equilibrium for the Large-Scale Flow

Convective parameterizations attempt to approximate the Reynolds-averaged effects of a convective ensemble on the large-scale flow as a function of the large-scale parameters. The interaction of convective ensemble effects with the large-scale circulation can produce phenomena not found in a non-convecting atmosphere, and the theoretical understanding of this interaction has long been a goal of tropical meteorology. Since convective closures are often complicated to work with in a theoretical model, most such work has been done with very simplified representations of convection. Most commonly, these fix the vertical structure of convective heating, with its magnitude taken proportional to low-level convergence or moisture convergence. These are referred to here as convergence-feedback parameterizations. They are sometimes referred to as “CISK” parameterizations, since they may produce instabilities in the large-scale model flow known as CISK (conditional instability of the second kind). The view of the tropical circulation resulting from such models has had a strong influence upon the field, both for tropical internal variability (Charney and Eliassen 1964; Ooyama 1964; Yamasaki 1969; Hayashi 1970, 1971a,b,c; Lindzen 1974a,b; Chang and Piwowar 1974; Stevens and Lindzen 1978; Davies 1979; Crum and Stevens 1983; Lau and Peng 1987; Hendon 1988; Wang 1988; Sui and Lau 1989; Blade and Hartmann 1993, Wang and Li 1994) and the response of the tropical atmosphere to sea surface temperature (SST) boundary conditions. In the latter case, most work has been done with very few vertical layers, usually with no moisture equation, and often with semi-empirical linkages of convective heating to SST. Nonetheless these models give useful simulations of anomalous tropical low-level winds (Gill 1980; Webster 1981; Zebiak 1986; Weare 1986; Lindzen and Nigam 1987; Neelin and Held 1987; Kleeman 1991; Wang and Li 1993), and it is of interest to seek justification for why they work, using a model with a more detailed representation of deep convection.
Design of a holistic dashboard for technologies enhancing aging in place

The goal of aging in place is to allow seniors to remain in the environment of their choice with supportive services as needed, helping them attain independent living at old age. In TigerPlace, a retirement community helps residents in ‘aging in place’. The senior residents' medical records and telemedicine data are stored in separate systems. Date-time stamped sensor data collected from their daily activities is also stored but not linked with their health records. Employing a human-centered evaluation framework to facilitate the decision making process, we conducted task and functional analyses, which provide descriptions of user characteristics, required functionality and basic tasks for an effective relational data representation. In this paper, we report the preliminary results from the above analyses, and a few prototypes resulting from the human-centered integrated display of health data. This project aims to offer a holistic and comprehensive view of all available scattered health information of the residents through a single interface that could add efficiency to the clinical decision making process.
In vitro radicular temperatures produced by injectable thermoplasticized gutta‐percha

In vitro temperatures produced in the root canal and on the root surface were measured simultaneously as heated gutta-percha was injected into the prepared canal. The canals were obturated with the Obtura II heated gutta-percha system with temperature settings of 160, 185, and 200 degrees C. The mean intracanal temperatures ranged from 40.21 to 57.24 degrees C, whereas the mean root surface temperatures were recorded from 37.22 to 41.90 degrees C for all three temperatures tested. The rise in temperature on the root surface was below the critical level of 10 degrees C and should not cause damage to the periodontal ligament.
Physicians' Ability to Provide Initial Primary Care to an HIV-Infected Patient

Background: Primary care physicians are providing care for an increasing number of persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study assesses the ability of primary care physicians to provide initial care for a patient with recently diagnosed HIV infection. Methods: A standardized patient (SP) was trained to portray an asymptomatic person with HIV infection seeking a primary care physician. Physicians took a medical history and counseled the SP; their performances were assessed by the SP and through a brief written examination. In addition, physicians distributed questionnaires to HIV-infected patients in their practices to assess actual performance. The study participants consisted of 121 primary care physicians. Results: A minority of physicians recommended standard primary care screening tests and vaccinations, including viral hepatitis screening (35%), syphilis serologic testing (32%), and pneumococcal vaccination (23%). While most physicians (87%) indicated they would obtain CD4 cell counts, only 50% indicated they would start appropriate Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis. Although this patient presented documentation of a positive tuberculin skin test and no prior therapy for tuberculosis, only 53% of the physicians recommended prophylactic isoniazid. While 75% of the physicians asked this SP about his HIV risk (sex with men), less than a third asked about condom use, number of sexual partners, or contact with previous sexual partners. Physicians with the most HIV experience were more likely to recommend P carinii pneumonia prophylaxis, coinfection screening, pneumococcal vaccination, and isoniazid prophylactic therapy. However, physicians' HIV experience was not associated with assessing this SP's risk of infecting others or with counseling regarding condom use. Questionnaires distributed to HIV-infected patients of these physicians generally confirmed these findings. Conclusions: Basic HIV preventive and primary care may not be adequately performed by many primary care physicians. Physicians' HIV experience was associated with better performance of HIV primary care tasks, but not with screening and counseling concerning the spread of HIV infection. (Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:1613-1618)
Plasma Protein Corona Modulates the Vascular Wall Interaction of Drug Carriers in a Material and Donor Specific Manner

The nanoscale plasma protein interaction with intravenously injected particulate carrier systems is known to modulate their organ distribution and clearance from the bloodstream. However, the role of this plasma protein interaction in prescribing the adhesion of carriers to the vascular wall remains relatively unknown. Here, we show that the adhesion of vascular-targeted poly(lactide-co-glycolic-acid) (PLGA) spheres to endothelial cells is significantly inhibited in human blood flow, with up to 90% reduction in adhesion observed relative to adhesion in simple buffer flow, depending on the particle size and the magnitude and pattern of blood flow. This reduced PLGA adhesion in blood flow is linked to the adsorption of certain high molecular weight plasma proteins on PLGA and is donor specific, where large reductions in particle adhesion in blood flow (>80% relative to buffer) is seen with ∼60% of unique donor bloods while others exhibit moderate to no reductions. The depletion of high molecular weight immunoglobulins from plasma is shown to successfully restore PLGA vascular wall adhesion. The observed plasma protein effect on PLGA is likely due to material characteristics since the effect is not replicated with polystyrene or silica spheres. These particles effectively adhere to the endothelium at a higher level in blood over buffer flow. Overall, understanding how distinct plasma proteins modulate the vascular wall interaction of vascular-targeted carriers of different material characteristics would allow for the design of highly functional delivery vehicles for the treatment of many serious human diseases.
TGF‐β regulation of nuclear proto‐oncogenes and TGF‐β gene expression in normal human osteoblast‐like cells

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is present in high levels in bone and plays an important role in osteoblast growth and differentiation. In order to dissect the molecular mechanisms of action of TGF-beta on osteoblasts, the effects of TGF-beta on the steady state mRNA levels of c-fos, c-jun, and jun-B proto-oncogenes on normal human osteoblast-like cells (hOB) and a transformed human osteoblast cell line (MG-63) were measured. Treatment of hOBs with 2 ng/ml of TGF-beta 1 resulted in a rapid increase in c-fos mRNA levels as early as 15 min post-treatment. A maximum (10-fold) increase was observed at 30 min after TGF-beta treatment followed by a decrease to control values. Similar responses were measured whether the cells were rapidly proliferating or quiescent. TGF-beta 1 induced jun-B mRNA levels more gradually with steady increase initially observed at 30 min and a maximum induction measured at 2 h post-TGF-beta treatment. In contrast, TGF-beta treatment caused a time dependent decrease in the c-jun mRNA levels, an opposite pattern to that of jun-B mRNA. Treatment of hOBs with TGF-beta 1 in the presence of actinomycin-D abolished TGF-beta 1 induction of c-fos mRNA, suggesting that TGF-beta action is mediated via transcription. In the presence of cycloheximide, TGF-beta causes super-induction of c-fos mRNA at 30 min, indicating that the c-fos expression by TGF-beta is independent of new protein synthesis. Further, transfection of 3 kb upstream region of jun-B promoter linked to a CAT reporter gene into ROS 17/2.8 cells was sufficient to be regulated by TGF-beta 1. Interestingly, TGF-beta treatment also increased the mRNA levels of TGF-beta 1 itself at 4 h post TGF-beta treatment, with a maximum increase observed at 14 h of treatment. TGF-beta 1 treatment for 30 min were sufficient to cause a delayed increase in TGF-beta protein secretion within 24 h. These data support that TGF-beta has major effects on hOB cell proto-oncogene expression and that the nuclear proto-oncogenes respond as rapid, early genes in a cascade model of hormone action.
Reduced shear power spectrum

Measurements of ellipticities of background galaxies are sensitive to the reduced shear, the cosmic shear divided by (1-{kappa}) where {kappa} is the projected density field. We compute the difference between shear and reduced shear both analytically and with simulations. The difference becomes more important on smaller scales, and will impact cosmological parameter estimation from upcoming experiments. A simple recipe is presented to carry out the required correction.
Growth of Bulk AlN and GaN Single Crystals by Sublimation

Single crystals of A1N to 1 mm thickness were grown in the range 1950-2250°C on 10×10 mm2 α(6H)-SiC(0001) substrates via sublimation-recondensation method. Hot pressed polycrystalline AlN was used as the source material. The color varied from transparent to dark green/blue. The crystal morphology varied with growth conditions. Most crystals were 0.3 mm -1 mm thick transparent layers which completely covered the substrates. Raman, optical and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results are presented. Single crystals of gallium nitride (GaN) were also grown by subliming powders of this material under an ammonia (NH3) flow. Optical microscopy, Raman and photoluminescence results are shown.
A Description of a Simple Teaching Machine

The operation of the electrical circuit of a relatively simple teaching machine, and some ways in which this machine has been used are described.
Waiting Longer for Two Mutations

IN the Abstract of their recent article, “Waiting for Two Mutations: With Applications to Regulatory Sequence Evolution and the Limits of Darwinian Evolution” (Genetics 180: [1501–1509][1], 2008), Durrett and Schmidt write that one of their aims is “to expose flaws in some of Michael Behe's
Of women seeking assistance for intimate partner violence, those who report victimisation during pregnancy are at higher risk of further victimisation

Implications for practice and research: The benefits of integrating regular intimate partner violence (IPV) screening procedures for pregnant women in clinical settings outweigh the cost of minimal time spent conducting assessments. Healthcare providers must be trained to conduct IPV assessments and provide treatment referrals. Future studies should use larger samples and compare shelter populations with general prenatal care.
SPAN Pilot Project Report

Nearly 40 scientists, space physics data system managers, and NASA Headquarters personnel, all members of the Data System Users Working Group (DSUWG), met at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) on May 2 and 3, 1984, to discuss the status and future direction of the Space Physics Analysis Network (SPAN) pilot project. SPAN was recently established by Code EI and Code T at NASA Headquarters as a pilot project based on the recommendations of the DSUWG (see Eos, February 7, 1984, p. 46) and the urging of many scientists of the space plasma physics community. SPAN will use as its foundation the SCAN (Space-Plasma Computer Analysis Network) system managed by Marshall Space Flight Center. Code EE at headquarters has chartered the DSUWG, currently chaired by D.N. Baker of Los Alamos, to provide the scientific user guidance for the future development of the SPAN. SPAN will continue to be managed by MSFC but funding and policy review will be handled by Code EI to coordinate all the headquarters space science activities on the system.
Characterization of an Infectivity Assay for the Ribonucleic Acid of Bacteriophage MS2

An infectivity assay for MS2 ribonucleic acid (RNA), which uses bacterial spheroplasts of an F(-) strain of Escherichia coli, has an efficiency of 10(-5) infected spheroplasts per RNA molecule. The characteristics of this assay and the influence of several parameters are presented. Important variables include the duration of exposure of the cells to lysozyme-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, the duration of exposure of the spheroplast stock to the RNA solutions before dilution, the concentration of RNA, and the presence of competing RNA. The growth kinetics of the virus in the infected spheroplasts and the extent of lysis have also been studied.