cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unraveling students' misconceptions about the earth's shape and gravity

The present study was designed to test the effectiveness of a constructivist–historical teaching strategy in changing students' misconceptions about the earth's shape and gravity at the upper elementary and middle school levels. The experimental treatment was an astronomy unit in the series Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS), entitled Earth, Moon, and Stars, which provides opportunities for students to clarify and articulate their understanding of the earth's shape and gravity concepts, and to modify their ideas through class discussions, creative activities, observations of the sky, and manipulating concrete models to help them explain the phenomena that they observed. The study included 539 students from 18 classrooms in 10 different states. Most of the teachers learned to present the treatment and administer and score the assessment instruments at a summer institute sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The primary experiment was a treatment-group-only design, in which the teachers administered the same test to all students before and after the treatment. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the impact of the treatment on students' understanding of the earth's shape and gravity concepts. Data were analyzed in three age groups: fourth and fifth graders; sixth graders; and seventh and eighth graders. As expected from previous studies, on the pretest all classes displayed a wide variety of conceptions about the earth's shape and gravity. After the unit, however, the number of subjects who held misconceptions was far fewer. Chi-square analyses showed that a significant number of the students at all grade levels shed their misconceptions concerning both the earth's shape and gravity. A surprising finding was that younger subjects responded more positively to the experimental treatment than older students, so that, after instruction, fourth and fifth graders were as knowledgeable as seventh and eighth graders concerning the earth's shape and gravity. An additional study was conducted at two of the sites, in which pre- and posttests were administered to all subjects, but some subjects received the treatment and others did not. The treatment group showed significant gains, whereas the experimental group showed no significant difference, thus ruling out the effect of maturation and the effect of the test itself as alternative explanations for improvement. The results of this study support a constructivist–historical approach as fruitful in developing instructional methods and materials to help students change core concepts that are normally highly resistant to instruction. The study concludes with suggestions for further research, and for placing instruction on this topic at a strategic point in the school curriculum. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed82:265–284, 1998.
A Neonatal Mouse Model of Intermittent Hypoxia Associated with Features of Apnea in Premature Infants

Abstract A neonatal mouse model of intermittent hypoxia (IH) simulating the recurring hypoxia/reoxygenation episodes of apnea of prematurity (AOP) was developed. C57BL/6 P2 pups were culled for exposure to either intermittent hypoxia or intermittent air as control. The IH paradigms consisted of alternation cycles of 20.9% O 2 and either 8.0% or 5.7% O 2 every 120 or 140 s for 6 h a day during daylight hours from day 2 to day 10 postnatally, i.e., roughly equivalent to human brain development in the perinatal period. IH exposures elicited modest to severe decrease in oxygen saturation along with bradycardia in neonatal mice, which were severity-dependent. Hypomyelination in both central and peripheral nervous systems was observed despite the absence of visible growth retardation. The neonatal mouse model of IH in this study partially fulfills the current diagnostic criteria with features of AOP, and provides opportunities to reproduce in rodents some of the pathophysiological changes associated with this disorder, such as alterations in myelination.
Project Arbol:Deer-B-Gone : journal of a guerrilla sound installation

Project Arbol:Deer-B-Gone is a an outdoor sound installation of indefinite duration for twenty-three speakers. It takes on a guerrilla approach to sound installation art. Low-tech concepts and supplies, such as car amplifiers, aircraft cable, inexpensive cassette players, coupled with an overall irreverence for mainstream consumerism, created something like a Disney World theme park gone awry. The installation, which was site-specific, took place in a backyard in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. Yards and yards of cable were woven through the trees. Speakers were later mounted on the cable. Once in place, the speakers moved slowly along the cable. Each speaker played its own sound track. While there were some technical difficulties that plagued the project throughout its development and performance, overall Project Arbol proved to be a resilient installation.
Using visualization to support network and application management in a data center

We argue that there is a continuum between completely manual and completely automated management of networks and distributed applications. The ability to visualize the status of the network and applications inside a data center allows human users to rapidly asses the health of the system - quickly identifying problems that span across components and solving problems that challenge fully autonomic and machine-learning based management systems. We present a case study that highlights the requirements on visualization systems designed for the management of networks and applications inside large data centers. We explain the design of the Visual-I system that meets these requirements and the experience of an operations team using Visual-I.
Self-efficacy as a moderator of scholastic aptitude: Academic performance relationships.

Abstract This study explored the moderating effects of academic self-efficacy beliefs on the relationship of scholastic aptitude to academic achievement (grade point average) and persistence (retention). Subjects, 105 students enrolled in a career planning course for science and engineering majors, were administered measures of personal efficacy for (a) completing a variety of technical/science majors (Educational Requirements—Strength; ER-S), and (b) achieving specific academic goals relevant to success in such majors (Academic Milestones—Strength; AM-S). Results indicated that while AM-S was a strong predictor of academic outcomes regardless of aptitude level, ER-S moderated the relationship of scholastic aptitude and academic performance/persistence. Specifically, the grades and persistence of lower aptitude students were facilitated if they possessed high ER-S beliefs, but the performance and persistence of high-aptitude students were relatively unaffected by ER-S beliefs. Implications for future research on career self-efficacy, and for career and academic counseling, are discussed.
Symmetry restoration at finite temperature

Abstract We present some analytical results on the question of symmetry restoration at finite temperature. The renormalization group improved one-loop effective potential is re-examined in a region where it is real and where it is a reliable approximation. We treat the soluable large- N limit of the O ( N ) nonlinear sigma model and finally give some estimates of effects for the fundamental SU(2) Higgs model obtained in a mean field treatment.
Multidisciplinary approach for ABI recipients: surgical, electrophysiologic, and behavioral outcomes

Abstract Objective To describe the multidisciplinary approach implemented at the Medical College of Wisconsin for treating deafness in patients with neurofibromatosis type II (NF2) using the Nucleus 24 auditory brainstem implant (ABI). Study design The ABI protocol at the Medical College of Wisconsin includes microsurgical and endoscopic placement of the electrode pad, electrophysiologic testing in the operating room to ensure optimal placement, and psychophysical/behavioral testing for appropriate stimulation and longitudinal follow-up of the patient. Results To date, five patients have received ABIs and all are active users of their devices. All showed electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses during surgical placement, although they varied in morphology and amplitude. Of a possible 20 active electrodes, patients receive usable auditory stimulation on an average of 15 electrodes. Interfering nonauditory stimulation is present on an average of four electrodes. Pure-tone thresholds range from 20 to 35 dBHL across patients. For two patients who have 1 year of device use, their scores were 65% and 90% on the four-choice spondee (auditory-only). Substantial vowel recognition (Iowa Vowel Test) was observed in two patients who had 1 year of implant use (91% and 81%, auditory and visual) and one patient who had 6 months of implant use (64%, auditory and visual). In addition, patients have provided subjective reports of satisfaction with their devices Conclusion The multidisciplinary approach to auditory brainstem implantation at the Medical College of Wisconsin has been successful in treating deafness in NF2 patients. Proper placement of the electrode and careful programming of the device are crucial for a positive outcome, and require synergy among surgical, electrophysiologic, and clinical disciplines.
Universal short-wave instability of two-dimensional eddies in an inviscid fluid.

It is shown that a broad class of two-dimensional vortices occurring in the flow of an incompressible, inviscid fluid are unstable to three-dimensional perturbations. At short wavelengths along the vortex axis the growth rate becomes independent of wavelength, and the eigenmode becomes concentrated near the center of the vortex.
UNIVERSALS IN RELATIVE CLAUSE ACQUISITION: EVIDENCE FROM CHILD AND ADULT L1 AND L2 LEARNERS OF HINDI‐URDU

In the search for universals of relative clause acquisition, the present research investigated the comprehension of six types of Hindi-Urdu correlative sentences by child and adult L1 and L2 learners. Group comparisons show a sharper distinction between the performance of the first and second language learners than between the children and adults. While the native speakers tend to pay attention to case markers in interpreting sentences, the English-speaking learners tend to ignore these morphological cues, relying rather on a word order heuristic. The L1 errors, particularly those of the adults, are more systematic than the L2. Many of the learners do not appear to have any functional strategy for discovering the missing noun complement in the Hindi-Urdu correlative clauses and instead resort to random guessing. The paper concludes that language universals are available for the processing of complex structures only once a certain level of proficiency has been attained.
Mathematical model of the current density for the 30-cm engineering model thruster

Mathematical models are presented for both the singly and doubly charged ion current densities downstream of the 30-cm engineering model thruster with 0.5% compensated dished grids. These models are based on the experimental measurements of Vahrenkamp at a 2-amp ion beam operating condition. The cylindrically symmetric beam of constant velocity ions is modeled with continuous radial source and focusing functions across 'plane' grids with similar angular distribution functions. A computer program is used to evaluate the double integral for current densities in the near field and to obtain a far field approximation beyond 10 grid radii. The utility of the model is demonstrated for (1) calculating the directed thrust and (2) determining the impingement levels on various spacecraft surfaces from a two-axis gimballed, 2 x 3 thruster array.
Knowledge-Based Systems

First developed two decades ago, knowledge-based systems have seen widespread application in recent years. While performance has been a strong focus of attention, building such systems has also expanded our conception of a computer program from a black box providing an answer to something capable of explaining its answers, acquiring new knowledge, and transferring knowledge to students. These abilities derive from distinguishing clearly what the program knows from how that knowledge will be used, making it possible to use the same knowledge in different ways.
Deleveraging Corporate America: Job and Business Recovery Through Debt Restructuring

When the Great Recession roiled capital and labor markets in early 2009, up to a third of U.S. public corporations, and nearly 60% of privately owned companies, reported high levels of financial distress resulting from frozen credit markets. And the problems of “debt overhang” and corporate underinvestment were clearly in evidence as the combination of default risk and a relatively new provision of the tax code restricted the ability of distressed companies to deleverage their capital structures. But as described in this article, at least 110 U.S. companies used a little known provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to defer taxes on the cancellation of debt income (CODI) resulting from exchanges or repurchases of significant amounts of debt. This suspension of tax policy gave many distressed U.S. companies the flexibility to cut costs, shore up balance sheets, and boost liquidity, thereby keeping themselves in business and their workers employed throughout the economic crisis. The 110 companies examined either repurchased or exchanged a total of $32.5 billion of corporate debt. The deleveraging of these companies, which represented more than $2.2 trillion in total assets and $520 billion in market capitalization, helped them to remain solvent throughout the downturn and retain their collective 2.2 million employees. The resulting tax savings are estimated to have saved (or in some cases created) almost 90,000 jobs, while contributing $3.2 billion to total corporate earnings and $10.7 billion of output to the national gross domestic product. Although this approach could be criticized as adding to the federal budget deficit, the deferral of taxes on CODI is viewed as a targeted financial policy tool aimed directly at boosting the productive capacity and employment of corporate enterprises.
TU-A-211-01: Iterative Image Reconstruction for CT

After decades of research efforts, statistical methods for image reconstruction have begun to appear in commercial X‐ray CT systems, offering substantial improvements in image quality and/or substantial reductions in patient X‐ray dose, at the price of increased computation time. This educational talk will give an overview of the principles of statistical/iterative methods for image reconstruction for X‐ray CTimaging along with examples from clinical CT.
Alu elements: an intrinsic source of human genome instability

Alu elements are ∼300bp sequences that have amplified via an RNA intermediate leading to the accumulation of over 1 million copies in the human genome. Although a few of the copies are active, Alu germline activity is the highest of all human retrotransposons and does significantly contribute to genetic disease and population diversity. There are two basic mechanisms by which Alu elements contribute to disease: through insertional mutagenesis and as a large source of repetitive sequences that contribute to nonallelic homologous recombination (NAHR) that cause genetic deletions and duplications.
The development of an altered gingival crevicular microflora in the alloxan-diabetic rat.

The microflora of the rat gingival crevice were examined at various time intervals after inducing experimental diabetes. A variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative cocci and short rods were isolated from the normal rat crevice. Within a week after alloxan administration, Leptotrichia buccalis was detected for the first time. Other features in the diabetic animals included an increased frequency of isolation of Proteus spp., Lactobacillus spp. and decrease of Escherichia coli. Occasionally, a decrease was also observed in Bacteroides spp. and Streptococcus spp. No difference was observed between diabetic and non-diabetic animals in the isolation of Selonomonas, Campylobacter, Bifidobacterium and Actinomyces. Plaque accumulation was markedly increased in the diabetic rats. It was concluded that the change in gingival microflora resulted from diabetes-induced alterations in the sulcular environment (such as increased substrate levels, e.g. glucose and urea, and decreased oxygen) and that the microbiological changes preceded the depending of the periodontal pocket.
Temperature-dependent conductance in single and multiple quantum dots: the role of the disorder

Abstract We present calculations of conductance, G, as a function of inverse temperature, 1 / T, for a quantum dot array with disorder, a clean quantum dot enclosed by soft boundaries and a simple two resonance model. The behavior in each case is qualitatively similar, with G appearing to increase exponentially provided one starts at a minimum. Unlike some recent experimental studies, we do not see any logarithmic behavior at low temperatures.
Asymptotic Solution of the Dirac Equation

The WKB method is applied to solve the Dirac equation and the modified Dirac equation appropriate to a spin-\textonehalf{} particle with an anomalous magnetic moment. The solution consists of a phase factor multiplied by a spinor amplitude which is a power series in Planck's constant. The phase is a solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation of relativistic mechanics for a spinless particle without electric or magnetic moments. Each term in the spinor amplitude satisfies an ordinary differential equation along the relativistic trajectories. The equation for the leading amplitude yields an equation for the polarization four-vector which is identical with that derived classically by Bargmann, Michel, and Telegdi. It also yields the law of conservation of probability in a tube of trajectories. In addition, it gives rise to an equation for a supplementary phase factor. By using the classical Hamilton-Jacobi function, the law of probability conservation, the polarization four-vector and the supplementary phase factor, the leading term in the solution of the Dirac or modified Dirac equation can be constructed. This solution should be useful when the wavelength of the particle is small compared to the characteristic distance associated with the electromagnetic potential through which the particle moves. When applied to the bound states of a particle without an anomalous moment in a spherically symmetric electrostatic potential, it yields the same results as are usually obtained by separation of variables and use of the ordinary WKB method. The advantage of the present method is that it applies equally well to nonseparable problems.
Measurement of the Ground-State Gamma-Ray Branching Ratio of the dt Reaction at Low Energies

The branching ratio $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}0}}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}$ for the $d+t$ reaction has been measured between deuteron energies of 45 and 146 keV. Pair-coincidence spectrometry and pulse-shape discrimination were employed to reduce the neutron effects in the NaI(Tl) gamma-ray detector. The branching ratio is found to be constant over the energy range of the measurements with a best value $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}0}}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}=(5.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$. This value is significantly greater than cluster-model calculations of the branching ratio.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Double Depression and Intermittent Explosive Disorder A Case Study With Time-Series Analysis

This is a single case study utilizing time-series analysis for a young adult man with major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder (i.e., double depression [DD]) and intermittent explosive diso...
Self-Management and Transitions in Women With Advanced Breast Cancer

Abstract Context Self-management involves behaviors that individuals perform to handle health conditions. Self-management may be particularly challenging during transitions—shifts from one life phase or status to another, for example, from cure- to noncure-oriented care—because they can be disruptive and stressful. Little is known about individuals' experiences with self-management, especially during transitions. Objectives Our purpose was to describe experiences of self-management in the context of transitions among women with advanced breast cancer. Methods We interviewed a purposive sample of 15 women with metastatic breast cancer about their self-management preferences, practices, and experiences, including how they managed transitions. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. The qualitative method of interpretive description was used to code and analyze the data. Results Participants' mean age was 52 years (range 37–91 years); most were White (80%), married (80%), and college educated (60%). Self-management practices related to womens' health and to communication with loved ones and providers. Participants expressed a range of preferences for participation in self-management. Self-management included developing skills, becoming empowered, and creating supportive networks. Barriers to self-management included symptom distress, difficulty obtaining information, and lack of knowledge about the cancer trajectory. Women identified transitions as shifts in physical, emotional, and social well-being, as when their cancer progressed and there was a need to change therapy. Transitions often prompted changes in how actively women self-managed and were experienced as positive, negative, and neutral. Conclusion Self-management preferences can vary. Providers should explore and revisit patients' preferences and ability to self-manage over time, particularly during transitions.
Product Design Collaboration: Capturing Lost Supply Chain Value in the Apparel Industry

The growing complexity of both the supply chain and often the product itself has strained organizations in every sector making new product introduction more uncertain. Such supply chain problems are often the worst for short life products like high-tech electronics, toys, and fashion apparel where product lifecycles have shrunk to only a few months. In these environments, changing customer tastes and rapid innovation drive demand. Late entries are typically forced to slash prices to liquidate inventories, hoping the next product will hit the market on time and generate profits. Nowhere are these challenges greater than the apparel industry. Besides relentless pressure on product lifecycle, pricing pressures have driven many players in the supply chain to the brink of bankruptcy. Over the past eight years, apparel has consistently landed at the very button of the consumer price index. Racking up negative price increases in every year but one, apparel makers have been unable to increase prices while the overall index has increased by around three percent each year. For every player in the apparel industry, pressure at the retail level has translated into a struggle to reduce costs throughout the supply chain. From retailers and brands like Macy's and the Gap, to mills and manufacturers like Warnaco and Burlington, the cost pressures have been excruciating. After a decade of searching the globe for ever-lower costs, it is becoming clear to everyone in the industry that adversarial relationships focused on extracting cost reductions from suppliers is unsustainable. Winners in this industry must find ways to leverage their supply chain partnerships through information integration and collaboration - improving products, driving down cycle times, and reducing supply chain costs. In this paper, we will examine how players throughout the supply chain are reinventing their businesses through web-centric product collaboration. Starting from raw fiber producers and working our way to the retail stores, we will see how companies like Dupont - a fiber producer; Burlington - a fabric mill; OmegAlpha Industries - a cut and sew operation; Liz Claiborne - a brand; and Dillards - a retailer, can collaborate and change the structure of the supply chain.
The role of sodium in the uptake of ursodeoxycholic acid in isolated hamster hepatocytes

The uptake of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was studied in isolated hamster hepatocytes. The uptake was rapid and linear up to 60 seconds for each concentration studied. When the uptake rate was plotted against UDCA concentration, the curve was nonlinear, indicating both saturable and nonsaturable uptake mechanisms. The nonsaturable process had a diffusion constant of 0.01 nmol·s−1·g of cell·μmol/L−1. The saturable component was characterized by a maximum rate of uptake (Vmax) of 5.68 nmol·s−1·g of cell−1 and a Michaelis constant (Km) of 224 μmol/L. In the presence of monensin, ouabain, and amiloride, the uptake of UDCA was significantly decreased by 35% to 55%, whereas the sodium-independent uptake of UDCA was not affected by either monensin or amiloride, thereby confirming sodium dependence of UDCA uptake. The sodium-dependent uptake of UDCA was characterized by a Vmax and a Km of 1.57 nmol·s−1·g of cell−1 and 46 μmol/L, respectively. The rate of uptake of UDCA was maximal at extracellular sodium concentrations ≥20 mmol/L. Furthermore, the uptake of UDCA was competitively inhibited by both taurocholic acid and cholic acid with an inhibitory constant (K1) of 60 μmol/L and 48 μmol/L, respectively. Finally, 1 mmol/L of 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-disulfonic stilbene (DIDS) inhibited solely the sodium-dependent uptake of cholic acid and UDCA. These findings confirm that the hepatocellular uptake of UDCA involves, at least in part, a sodiumdependent, ouabain, amiloride, and DIDS-sensitive transporter.
On the range of applicability of baker's approach to the frame problem

We investigate the range of applicability of Baker's approach to the frame problem using an action language. We show that for temporal projection and deterministic domains, Baker's approach gives the intuitively expected results.
Electromagnetically induced magnetochiral anisotropy in resonant medium

Electromagnetically induced coherence can significantly increase optical response of atomic or molecular system. We demonstrate very large magneto-chiral anisotropy by applying resonant optical fields to atomic rubidium vapor.
Excimer Laser Direct Write Aluminum on Aluminum Nitride

Fabrication of metal lines on aluminum nitride (AIN) ceramic is important for application of AIN as a microcircuit board. An Al line can be made directly from AIN by excimer laser exposure. All lines in this paper were written by pulsed KrF excimer laser (248 nm) in air and vacuum at different scan speeds with a constant laser energy. The morphology of the Al lines was observed by optical and scanning electron microscopies. The lines become more metallic when the scan speed decreases. Consequently the resistance, measured by the four-point probe technique, decreased to a minimum value in the scan speed range of 400 μm/s to 900 μm/s for the samples made in air. The resistance of Al lines written in air is greater than that in vacuum because of oxidation. The samples made in air with scan speed lower than 400 μm/s were heavily oxidized. SAXPS spectra showed a strong oxidation state and that the excimer laser exposure depletes nitrogen from AMN. The Al lines produced by laser-induced decomposition of AMN board are being evaluated as catalysts for laser assisted CVD and conventional electroless plating. The oxidation layer on the surface of Al lines may effect the adhesion between the Al lines and the deposited or plated metal.
Capsule Commentary on Elliott et al., Sexual Minorities in England Have Poorer Health and Worse Health Care Experiences: A National Survey

Elliott and colleagues1 add to the growing body of evidence regarding health disparities, in both health status and quality of care, among lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) populations. In work that highlights the utility and value of including measures of sexual orientation in population-based surveys, the authors found that sexual minority groups in England had poorer self-assessed health status, and more frequently reported a longstanding psychological condition than heterosexuals. Disparities among bisexual groups were especially pronounced. LGB patients’ experiences with care were poorer as well. Unfortunately, the current study did not measure clinical or diagnostic outcomes, so it does not truly tell us about the health of sexual minorities in England writ large, but rather provides a window into respondents’ subjective sense of their own health. Further, questions related to quality of care provided no indication as to whether the poor experiences were the result of perceived provider biases related to sexual orientation (or any other bias, for that matter) or some other factor. Nevertheless, there are important clinical implications associated with the study’s findings. In particular, more frequent reports of poor doctor communication among sexual minorities must be considered. The significance of provider communication to health outcomes is well established.2,3 Yet, it is questionable whether medical schools are training students to effectively communicate and work with diverse populations, particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.4 Poor provider communication may compound and exacerbate existing health disparities among sexual minorities by causing them to delay seeking care, or to subsequently avoid care altogether. Addressing health disparities necessarily requires multi-faceted and multi-level approaches. Ensuring culturally competent and appropriate care, which includes effective provider communication, is a necessary part of the solution.
Essential norm estimates of weighted composition operators between Bergman spaces on strongly pseudoconvex domains

We give estimates of the essential norms of weighted composition operators acting between Bergman spaces on strongly pseudoconvex domains. We also characterize boundedness and compactness of these operators.
Wideband RF photonic pre-selector for dynamic co-site interference mitigation

The use of optical interferometry within an optical waveguide structure for null frequencies is well understood. We demonstrate a useful application of a related technique using unbalanced outputs of a dual output Mach-Zehnder modulator combined with a balanced detector to provide frequency agile, dynamic co-site interference mitigation. We will show the extreme wideband performance of this all optical solution by rejecting interferer frequencies by over 40 dB. We initially apply this technique to the challenging sub-octave microwave communications environment and suggest that the utility of this technique actually improves up into the millimeter bands.
Risk factors of self-reported adverse drug events among Medicare enrollees before and after Medicare Part D

Objectives: Quantify risk factors for self-reported adverse drug events (ADEs) after the implementation of Medicare Part D, quantify self-reported ADEs before and after Medicare Part D and quantify the association between self-reported ADEs and increased use of prescription medication.Methods: The design was a longitudinal study including an internet survey before Medicare Part D in 2005 (n=1220) and a follow-up survey in 2007 (n=1024), with n=436 responding to both surveys. Harris Interactive® invited individuals in their online panel to participate in this study. Individuals who were 65 or older, English speakers, US residents and enrolled in Medicare were included. Data collected and used in analysis included self-reported ADE, socio-demographics, self-rated health, number of medications, symptoms experienced, concern and necessity beliefs about medicines, number of pharmacies, and whether doses were skipped or stopped to save money.Results: In 2007, reporting an ADE was related to concern beliefs, symptoms experienced and age. ADEs were experienced by 18% of respondents in 2005 and 20.4% in 2007. The average number of medications increased from 3.82 (SD=2.82) in 2005 to 4.32 (SD=3.20) in 2007 (t= -5.77, p<0.001). Among respondents who answered both surveys (n=436), 18.4% reported an ADE in 2005 while 24.3% reported an ADE in 2007. The increase in self-reported ADE was related to concern beliefs (OR=1.12, 95%CI=1.05, 1.19) and symptoms experienced (OR= 3.27, 95%CI=1.60, 6.69), not number of medications (OR=1.04, 95%CI=0.77, 1.41).Conclusion: Discussing elderly patients’ beliefs about their medicines may affect their medication expectations, symptom interpretation and attributions and future medication attributions.
Membrane-Associated Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Is a Receptor for Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 Virions

The human parvovirus adeno-associated virus (AAV) infects a broad range of cell types, including human, nonhuman primate, canine, murine, and avian. Although little is known about the initial events of virus infection, AAV is currently being developed as a vector for human gene therapy. Using defined mutant CHO cell lines and standard biochemical assays, we demonstrate that heparan sulfate proteoglycans mediate both AAV attachment to and infection of target cells. Competition experiments using heparin, a soluble receptor analog, demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of AAV attachment and infection. Enzymatic removal of heparan but not chondroitin sulfate moieties from the cell surface greatly reduced AAV attachment and infectivity. Finally, mutant cell lines that do not produce heparan sulfate proteoglycans were significantly impaired for both AAV binding and infection. This is the first report that proteoglycan has a role in cellular attachment of a parvovirus. Together, these results demonstrate that membrane-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycan serves as the viral receptor for AAV type 2, and provide an explanation for the broad host range of AAV. Identification of heparan sulfate proteoglycan as a viral receptor should facilitate development of new reagents for virus purification and provide critical information on the use of AAV as a gene therapy vector.
Electrical properties of heavily doped polycrystalline silicon-germanium films

The electrical properties of polycrystalline silicon-germanium (poly-Si/sub 1/spl minus/x/Ge/sub x/) films with germanium mole fractions up to 0.56 doped by high-dose ion implantation are presented. The resistivity of heavily doped p-type (P/sup +/) poly-Si/sub 1/spl minus/x/Ge/sub x/ is much lower than that of comparably doped poly-Si, because higher levels of boron activation and higher hole mobilities are achieved in poly-Si/sub 1/spl minus/x/Ge/sub x/. The resistivity of heavily doped n-type (N/sup +/) poly-S/sub 1/spl minus/x/Ge/sub x/ is similar to that of comparably doped poly-Si for x >
The Differential Use of Information by Experienced and Novice Auditors in the Performance of Ill‐Structured Audit Tasks*

The experiment reported in this paper tests a theoretical model of experienced and novice auditors' information use. The model, based on social cognition research, posits that when judgements are sequential, the information encountered first affects the processing of subsequent information. Specifically, initial information that is in line with expectations results in more superficial processing of subsequent information than initial information that violates expectations. The judgements of 13 experienced and 26 novice auditors were analyzed to determine whether the model is descriptive of auditors' judgements in an ill-structured task setting (real estate valuation). Results lend support for the model. The implications of the results and the model's impact on audit effectiveness are discussed.
Laparoscopic conversion of vertical banded gastroplasty to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

The vertical banded gastroplasty was the mainstay of bariatric surgery for over a decade. Though this procedure is now rarely performed many of these patients will present with failure or maladaptive eating and its sequelae. Some of these patients who demonstrate the motivation for lifestyle modification as well as many of these with complications will be candidates for revisional surgery. This article reviews the technical challenges in performing these revisions using minimally invasive techniques. In addition it reviews outcomes of laparoscopic conversion and tips for patient selection and success.
Role of AmpD, OprF and penicillin-binding proteins in β-lactam resistance in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In this study, the mechanisms leading to increased chromosomal AmpC β-lactamase expression and the contributory roles of the outer-membrane protein OprF and penicillin-binding proteins were analysed in 33 characterized clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The genes ampD and ampE were analysed by PCR and DNA sequencing. Expression of the gene oprF was assessed using real-time RT-PCR, and penicillin-binding proteins were analysed using a chemiluminescence assay. Several of the isolates with increased ampC expression had major deletions affecting ampD, although in some isolates the mechanism of increased ampC expression could not be ascertained. Occasional isolates had increased expression of both ampC and oprF but remained susceptible to cephalosporins, suggesting that increased β-lactamase activity could not offset increased outer-membrane permeability. There were no discernible changes in penicillin-binding proteins. Genomic deletions in ampD were observed in selected clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa with increased expression of the AmpC β-lactamase. For some isolates, cephalosporin resistance was dependent upon the interplay of ampC and oprF expression.
Effect of Diluents on Tablet Integrity and Controlled Drug Release

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diluents and wax level on tablet integrity during heat treatment and dissolution for sustained-release formulations and the resultant effec...
Designs of latex particles' morphologies for toughening polymer matrices

The performance of the designed structured core/shell latex particles in toughening polycarbonate (PC) matrix was examined. The influence of parameters related to the core/shell latex particles on toughening PC such as: the particle size and levels of crosslinking of the core rubber particles, composition and molecular-weight of the shell polymer, the weight ratio of shell and core polymers as well as the particle morphology was evaluated. Core/shell structured latex particles with thinner shells of higher molecular-weight polymers were found to improve the impact resistance of PC. The role of chain entanglements in increased adhesion between the discrete rubbery phase and the continuous glass matrix are discussed.
Ligand-dependent regulation of NPR-A gene expression in inner medullary collecting duct cells

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) interacts with high-affinity, guanylyl cyclase-linked receptors in the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD), where it exerts important regulatory control over sod...
Pseudomonas classification. A new case history in the taxonomy of gram-negative bacteria

Various criteria that have been used in the development of a system of classification of Pseudomonas species, as well as in the precise circumscription of the genus on phenotypic and molecular bases, are discussed. Pseudomonas taxonomy has transcended its own limits by suggesting a general strategy for the definition of taxonomic hierarchies at and above the genus level. A selection of studies on the biochemical and physiological properties of members of the genus is critically examined in relation to the current taxonomic scheme as a frame of reference.
Changes in Stress and Psychological Adjustment During the Transition to High School Among Freshmen in an Accelerated Curriculum

This study determined whether participation in an accelerated curriculum (specifically, the International Baccalaureate [IB] program) upon entry to high school is associated with increases in stres...
Will changes in phenology track climate change? A study of growth initiation timing in coast Douglas‐fir

Under climate change, the reduction of frost risk, onset of warm temperatures and depletion of soil moisture are all likely to occur earlier in the year in many temperate regions. The resilience of tree species will depend on their ability to track these changes in climate with shifts in phenology that lead to earlier growth initiation in the spring. Exposure to warm temperatures ('forcing') typically triggers growth initiation, but many trees also require exposure to cool temperatures ('chilling') while dormant to readily initiate growth in the spring. If warming increases forcing and decreases chilling, climate change could maintain, advance or delay growth initiation phenology relative to the onset of favorable conditions. We modeled the timing of height- and diameter-growth initiation in coast Douglas-fir (an ecologically and economically vital tree in western North America) to determine whether changes in phenology are likely to track changes in climate using data from field-based and controlled-environment studies, which included conditions warmer than those currently experienced in the tree's range. For high latitude and elevation portions of the tree's range, our models predicted that warming will lead to earlier growth initiation and allow trees to track changes in the onset of the warm but still moist conditions that favor growth, generally without substantially greater exposure to frost. In contrast, toward lower latitude and elevation range limits, the models predicted that warming will lead to delayed growth initiation relative to changes in climate due to reduced chilling, with trees failing to capture favorable conditions in the earlier parts of the spring. This maladaptive response to climate change was more prevalent for diameter-growth initiation than height-growth initiation. The decoupling of growth initiation with the onset of favorable climatic conditions could reduce the resilience of coast Douglas-fir to climate change at the warm edges of its distribution.
Variation in prevalence and patterns of peripherally inserted central catheter use in adults hospitalized with pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Although peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are often used in adults hospitalized with pneumonia, patterns related to PICC use in this context are unknown. METHODS: Premier's inpatient database was used to identify patients hospitalized with pneumonia between July 1, 2007 and November 30, 2011. PICC placement was identified via billing codes. Generalized estimating equations were used to identify factors associated with PICC placement. Hospital risk-standardized rates of PICC insertion were estimated using hierarchical generalized linear models. RESULTS: There were 545,250 patients (median age: 71 years; range: 57–82 years) included. A total of 41,849 (7.7%) patients received a PICC during hospitalization (median receipt: hospital day 4). PICC recipients were younger (median age: 69 years), had higher levels of comorbidity (Gagne score median: 4 vs 2) and were more often diagnosed with healthcare-associated pneumonia (43.1% vs 29.9%) than those who did not receive PICCs. The 3 patient variables most associated with PICC receipt included weight loss (odds ratio [OR]: 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.97-2.10), sepsis on admission (OR: 1.80, 95%CI: 1.75-1.85), and intensive care unit status on hospital day 1 or 2 (OR: 1.70, 95%CI: 1.64-1.75). Compared to internal medicine, admission by geriatricians and critical care physicians was associated with PICC placement (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.62-2.03 and OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.05-1.24, respectively). Risk-standardized rates of PICC utilization varied from 0.3% to 41.7%. Nearly 70% of the variability in PICC use could not be explained by available data. CONCLUSIONS: In adults hospitalized with pneumonia, PICC use appears directed towards those with severe illness and varies substantially between hospitals. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:568–575. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine.
The Expression of COX-2 in Lung Tissue of Rats with Acute Pancreatitis

Objective To explore the role of COX-2 in pathogenesis of acu te pancreatitis associated acute lung injury(PALI) in rats .Methods Pancreatitis was induced with 3.5% sodium taurocholate. Animals were sacrificed at 1,4,8,12,and 24 hours after induction of pancreatitis. The severity of pancreatitis was evaluated by quantitating serum lipase and pancreatic pathologic score. Lung injury was evaluated by lung patho logic score and lung water content. RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) a nalysis was performed to assess gene expression of COX-2 in lung tissue .Results Lung injury can be found at 1 hours after induction of pancreatitis with 3.5% sodium taurocholate . The microscopic findings of lung injury included leukocytes infiltration in lung tissue, pulmon ary sepatal thickening, pneunoedema and collapse of alveolar cavity. Lung water content inc reased from 4 hours after induction of pancreatitis. The expression of COX-2 mRNA in lung ti ssue increased markedly 4 hours after induction of pancreatitis, and gradually reached its pea k after 24 hours.Conclusions COX-2 may be involved in the pathogenesis of PALI. Inhibition of th e expression of COX-2 in lung tissue may be helpful for treatment of PALI.
Regrowth in ship's ballast water tanks: Think again!

Abstract With the imminent ratification of the International Maritime Organisation's Ballast Water Management Convention, ship owners and operators will have to choose among a myriad of different Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS) and technologies to comply with established discharge standards. However, it has come to our attention that decision-makers seem to be unaware of the problem of regrowth occurring in ballast water tanks after treatment. Furthermore, the information available on the subject in the literature is surprisingly and unfortunately very limited. Herein we summarise previous research findings that suggest that regrowth of bacteria and phytoplankton could occur 18 h to 7 days and 4 to 20 days after treatment, respectively. By highlighting the problem of regrowth, we would like to encourage scientists and engineers to further investigate this issue and to urge ship owners and ship operators to inform themselves on the risks of regrowth associated with the implementation of different BWTS.
A laser-induced fluorescence instrument for aircraft measurements of sulfurdioxide in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

Abstract. This work describes the development and testing of a new instrument for in situ measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO2) on airborne platforms in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UT–LS). The instrument is based on the laser-induced fluorescence technique and uses the fifth harmonic of a tunable fiber-amplified semiconductor diode laser system at 1084.5 nm to excite SO2 at 216.9 nm. Sensitivity and background checks are achieved in flight by additions of SO2 calibration gas and zero air, respectively. Aircraft demonstration was performed during the NASA Volcano-Plume Investigation Readiness and Gas-Phase and Aerosol Sulfur (VIRGAS) experiment, which was a series of flights using the NASA WB-57F during October 2015 based at Ellington Field and Harlingen, Texas. During these flights, the instrument successfully measured SO2 in the UT–LS at background (non-volcanic) conditions with a precision of 2 ppt at 10 s and an overall uncertainty determined primarily by instrument drifts of ±(16 % + 0.9 ppt).