cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-Monitoring, Social Approval of Appearance and Conformity of Asian-American and Anglo-American Women: Implications for Consumer Behavior

A study of the differences in self-monitoring, the need for social approval of appearance, and conformity in appearance between Asian- and Anglo-American women was conducted. It was found that Asian-American subjects were significantly lower in self-monitoring but significantly higher in need for conformity in appearance than the Anglo-Americans subjects.
A bloody evidence: Is Mycobacterium bovis bacteraemia frequent in cattle?!

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis, constitutes a major economic and health problem affecting cattle. Furthermore, there is the concern of transmission to hu...
150 Using local context to inform road traffic injury prevention in global employee wellness programs

Background Multinational corporations (MNCs) can contribute to their employees’ wellness through global interventions aimed at road traffic injury prevention, particularly in high risk settings. The purpose of this study was to understand the road use experiences of employees of a large U.S. MNC in India to inform a globally enacted and locally relevant employee road safety platform. Methods Surveys and focus group interviews were used to elicit road safety perceptions, attitudes and behaviours of employees in MNC offices in the cities of Bangalore and Pune. Survey responses were analysed to describe demographic, vehicular, and behavioural features of a representative sample of employees. Focus group transcripts were coded to develop a thematic framework that described the road traffic experiences of employees in their local environment and perceptions of interventions that would enhance their safety. Results Seventy-five employees completed surveys and participated in one of six focus group interviews. Participants considered daily road use to be a dangerous and stressful experience. Roadway danger was attributed to vehicle mix, non-adherence to traffic laws, and transportation infrastructure unequipped for the rate of population and commercial growth. Focus groups identified inconsistencies between employee knowledge of safety strategies and their road use behaviours, and policy-level actions that could be instituted. Conclusions This study uncovered that an employee road safety intervention for MNC employees in the context of urban India should focus on behaviour change and structural interventions that take into account roadway infrastructure, traffic patterns, and enforcement of traffic policies. It further demonstrates how simple strategies can be used to elicit important contextual road safety factors amoung MNC employees globally in order to identify locally relevant interventions for employee injury prevention.
Early detection of right ventricular dysfunction using transthoracic echocardiography in ARDS: a more objective approach

Purpose Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Our goal was to describe morphologic changes in the RV using objective measures on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) that occur following ARDS. Methods We retrospectively measured changes in the following RV parameters from a pre-ARDS TTE to an ARDS TTE: tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), myocardial performance index (MPI), fractional area change (FAC), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP), peak tricuspid regurgitant (TR) velocity, and septal shift. Results Over 24 months, 14 patients met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Mean TAPSE decreased from 22.4 mm pre-ARDS to 16.3 mm during ARDS, P<.001. Mean MPI increased from 0.19 to 0.38, P=.001. Mean FAC decreased from 60.8% to 41.2%, P=.003. Peak TR velocity increased from 2.67 m/s pre-ARDS to 3.31 m/s during ARDS, P=.02. SPAP and septal shift demonstrated trends but not statistically different between pre-ARDS and ARDS states. TAPSE correlated with ARDS severity (PaO2/FiO2 ratios), P=.004, and was lower among 30-day nonsurvivors compared with survivors, P=.002. Conclusions Mild RV dysfunction is common after ARDS onset. RV morphologic changes coupled with dysfunction can be detected noninvasively through TTE changes with TAPSE, MPI, and FAC. Mild RV dysfunction by TAPSE is associated with ARDS severity and mortality.
A Capacitor Voltage Balancing Strategy With Minimized AC Circulating Current for the DC–DC Modular Multilevel Converter

The dc–dc modular multilevel converter (MMC), which has originated from the ac–dc MMC circuit topology, is an attractive converter topology for interconnection of medium-/high-voltage dc grids. Proper operation of the dc–dc MMC necessitates injection of an ac circulating current to maintain its submodule (SM) capacitor voltages balanced. The ac circulating current, however, needs to be minimized for efficiency improvement. In addition, a unique type of imbalance amongst the SM capacitor voltages that is caused by dc power flow needs to be mitigated. This paper proposes a closed-loop control strategy for the dc–dc MMC to simultaneously regulate the dc-link currents, maintain the SM capacitor voltages balanced, and minimize the ac circulating current. Performance and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy are evaluated based on simulation studies in the MATLAB Simulink and experimentally verified on a laboratory prototype.
Asymptotic analysis in MIMO diversity systems

In this paper, through asymptotic analysis of the distribution of the largest singular value of a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system, we obtain some succinct results for average error performance and capacity scaling law of MIMO maximum-ratio-transmission/maximum-ratio-combining (MRT/MRC) systems. Similar results are also obtained for two other MIMO diversity schemes, space-time block coding (STBC) and selection combining (SC). Our results reveal a simple connection with system parameters, providing good insights for the design of MIMO diversity systems.
Estimating asset pricing models with frictions

Abstract We jointly quantify the magnitude of risk aversion and transactions costs implied by asset pricing models with trading frictions. With constant relative risk aversion and symmetric transactions costs, estimated transactions costs on Treasury bills are implausibly high, a manifestation of the risk-free rate puzzle. Introducing short-selling costs for Treasury bills offers a resolution of the puzzle. The resulting confidence sets show upper bounds on risk aversion to be at reasonable levels. Short-selling costs for Treasuries are not necessary under recursive preferences.
What is the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiation, and adjuvant treatment in resectable esophageal cancer?

The majority of patients with operable esophageal cancers present with locally advanced disease, for which surgical resection as a sole treatment modality has been historically associated with poor survival. Even following radical resection, most of these patients will eventually succumb to their disease due to distant metastasis. For this reason, there has been intense interest in the role of neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant therapy primarily consists of either chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of the two. Multiple studies of variable scope, design, and patient characteristics have been conducted to determine whether neoadjuvant therapy is warranted, and—if so—what is the best modality of treatment. Despite nearly three decades of study, decisions regarding neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer remain controversial. Regardless, the available evidence provided by large, prospective studies supports preoperative chemotherapy as opposed to surgery alone. Therefore, in our opinion, there is no longer any question as to whether induction therapy is appropriate for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Less clear, however, is the evidence that the addition of radiation to chemotherapy in the preoperative setting is superior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. Our group generally advocates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone followed by radical esophageal resection. The data for adjuvant therapy are soft, and particularly troubling is the high rate of treatment drop out in trials studying adjuvant therapy. Therefore, we strongly prefer neoadjuvant chemotherapy and reserve adjuvant chemotherapy for those rare, highly selected patients—patients with T1 tumors, for example—who do not receive neoadjuvant treatment and are found to have occult nodal disease at the time of surgery.
The effect of colored embellishment of a visual array on a simultaneously presented audio array

The use of audiovisual teaching materials involves the presentation of information through both the audio and visual channels. The use of colored embellishment in the visual channel has been assumed to have differential effects, depending upon the type of information that was to be transmitted. However, it is common for color and other fonns of embellishments to be used when these do not have a function with respect to information transmission other than that of attracting attention or producing aesthetic effect (realor supposed). This experiment is designed to study the effect on learning of colored embellishments of the visual materials involved in a task to be learned. The task involves both visual and auditory transmission of information, but only the visual component is presented, both with and without
Expression of a peptidoglycan hydrolase from lytic bacteriophages Atu_ph02 and Atu_ph03 triggers lysis of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

To provide food security, innovative approaches to preventing plant disease are currently being explored. Here, we demonstrate that lytic bacteriophages and phage lysis proteins are effective at triggering lysis of the phytopathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens Phages Atu_ph02 and Atu_ph03 were isolated from wastewater and induced lysis of C58-derived strains of A. tumefaciens The coinoculation of A. tumefaciens with phages on potato discs limited tumor formation. The genomes of Atu_ph02 and Atu_ph03 are nearly identical and are ∼42% identical to those of T7 supercluster phages. In silico attempts to find a canonical lysis cassette were unsuccessful; however, we found a putative p hage p eptidoglycan h ydrolase (PPH), which contains a C-terminal transmembrane domain. Remarkably, the endogenous expression of pph in the absence of additional phage genes causes a block in cell division and subsequent lysis of A. tumefaciens cells. When the presumed active site of the N-acetylmuramidase domain carries an inactivating mutation, PPH expression causes extensive cell branching due to a block in cell division but does not trigger rapid cell lysis. In contrast, the mutation of positively charged residues at the extreme C terminus of PPH causes more rapid cell lysis. Together, these results suggest that PPH causes a block in cell division and triggers cell lysis through two distinct activities. Finally, the potent killing activity of this single lysis protein can be modulated, suggesting that it could be engineered to be an effective enzybiotic.IMPORTANCE The characterization of bacteriophages such as Atu_ph02 and Atu_ph03, which infect plant pathogens such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens, may be the basis of new biocontrol strategies. First, cocktails of diverse bacteriophages could be used as a preventative measure to limit plant diseases caused by bacteria; a bacterial pathogen is unlikely to simultaneously develop resistances to multiple bacteriophage species. The specificity of bacteriophage treatment for the host is an asset in complex communities, such as in orchards where it would be detrimental to harm the symbiotic bacteria in the environment. Second, bacteriophages are potential sources of enzymes that efficiently lyse bacterial cells. These phage proteins may have a broad specificity, but since proteins do not replicate as phages do, their effect is highly localized, providing an alternative to traditional antibiotic treatments. Thus, studies of lytic bacteriophages that infect A. tumefaciens may provide insights for designing preventative strategies against bacterial pathogens.
An improved synchronization likelihood method for quantifying neuronal synchrony.

Indirect quantification of the synchronization between two dynamical systems from measured experimental data has gained much attention in recent years, especially in the computational neuroscience community where the exact model of the neuronal dynamics is unknown. In this regard, one of the most promising methods for quantifying the interrelationship between nonlinear non-stationary systems is known as Synchronization Likelihood (SL), which is based on the likelihood of the auto-recurrence of embedding vectors (similar patterns) in multiple dynamical systems. However, synchronization likelihood method uses the Euclidean distance to determine the similarity of two patterns, which is known to be sensitive to outliers. In this study, we propose a discrete synchronization likelihood (DSL) method to overcome this limitation by using the Manhattan distance in the discrete domain (l1 norm on discretized signals) to identify the auto-recurrence of embedding vectors. The proposed method was tested using unidirectional and bidirectional identical/non-identical coupled Henon Maps, a Watts-Strogatz small-world network with nonlinearly coupled nodes based on Kuramoto model and the real-world ADHD-200 fMRI benchmark dataset. According to the results, the proposed method shows comparable and in some cases better performance than the conventional SL method, especially when the underlying highly connected coupled dynamical system goes through subtle changes in the bivariate case or sudden shifts in the multivariate case.
Infectious Complications of Biologics

Infection is the most frequently encountered consequence of biologic therapy and a major concern for both patients and healthcare providers. Biologic agents suppress immune function to mitigate aberrant and unregulated inflammatory activity but can also predispose to serious, sometimes fatal, consequences including newly acquired infections, opportunistic infections, or reactivation of latent disease. The risk of such infections reflects a variety of external factors including biologic type and the use of concomitant immunosuppressant medication(s) as well as host-specific variables such as age, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) severity, underlying nutritional status, medical comorbidity, and history of bowel surgery. Other considerations include history of malignancy, presence of cytopenia, geographic location, previous infectious exposure(s), and vaccination status, among others. Appropriate screening with identification and stratification of at-risk patients, the use of primary or secondary chemoprophylaxis, and close clinical and laboratory surveillance with early recognition and timely goal-directed therapy for both common and opportunistic infections may optimize patient outcomes and decrease associated morbidity and mortality.
Generation of Maize (Zea mays) Doubled Haploids via Traditional Methods

Commercial maize hybrid production has corroborated the usefulness of producing inbred lines; however, the delivery of new lines has always been a major time constraint in breeding programs. Traditional methods for developing inbred lines typically require 6 to 10 generations of self-pollination to obtain sufficient homozygosity. To bypass the time and costs associated with the development of inbred lines, doubled haploid (DH) systems have been widely adopted in the commercial production of maize. Within just two generations, DH systems can create completely homozygous and homogeneous lines. A typical maize DH system, utilizing anthocyanin markers R1-nj or Pl1 for haploid selection, is described in this protocol. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: doubled haploids; maize; haploid selection
A contemporary population-based analysis of the incidence, cost, and outcomes of postoperative delirium following major urologic cancer surgeries.

Abstract Purpose Postoperative delirium (PD) is associated with poor outcomes and increased health care costs. The incidence, outcomes, and cost of delirium for major urologic cancer surgeries have not been previously characterized in a population-based analysis. Materials and methods We performed a population-based, retrospective cohort study of patients with PD at 490 US hospitals between 2003 and 2013 to evaluate the incidence, outcomes, and cost of delirium after radical prostatectomy, radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, and radical cystectomy (RC). Delirium was defined using ICD-9 codes in combination with postoperative antipsychotics, sitters, and restraints. Regression models were constructed to assess mortality, discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and direct hospital admission costs. Survey-weighted adjustment for hospital clustering achieved estimates generalizable to the US population. Results We identified 165,387 patients representing a weighted total of 1,097,355 patients. The overall incidence of PD was 2.7%, with the greatest incidence occurring after RC, with 6,268 cases (11%). Delirious patients had greater adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 3.65, P Conclusions Patients with PD after urologic cancer surgeries experienced worse outcomes, prolonged LOS, and increased admission costs. The greatest incidence and costs were seen after RC. Further research is warranted to identify high-risk patients and devise preventative strategies.
Rational Living with Dying

This will be my final word on the topic of death for some time to come, so it is fitting that I should conclude this volume with a chapter on thanatology and rational-emotive psychotherapy.
EFFECTS OF 15(S)-HETE ON HUMAN CONJUNCTIVAL MUCIN SECRETION.

The pre-ocular tear film consists of an inner mucus layer that coats the epithelial surface, a middle aqueous layer containing soluble mucins and other proteins and an outermost lipid layer.1 Deficits in tear film mucins have been associated with several dry eye disorders,2–6suggesting that ocular mucin secretogogues may have therapeutic benefit for treatment of dry eye. Current evidence suggests that ocular surface epithelia express a diverse array of mucins, including MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC and MUC7.7–9 However, the physiological functions of individual tear film mucins remain largely unexplored.
Predictors of quickly progressing from initiating alcohol use to engaging in binge drinking among adolescents.

Abstract Background A short delay to first intoxication confers alcohol-related risk, but risk factors for a short delay have yet to be examined. Methods 230 high school students (55.7% male; age 16.52 [1.19] years; 70.9% White) were surveyed about alcohol use. We examined whether sex, race, parental history of alcohol problems, age of onset, type of alcohol consumed, drinking company, and subjective response to alcohol were associated with 1) delay to first binge episode and 2) binge drinking status (i.e., never bingers, individuals who binge drank on their first drinking occasion, and individuals who binge drank at a later date). Finally, we examined whether first-occasion bingers reported heavier drinking and alcohol-related problems than later-occasion and never bingers. Results Overall, a shorter delay was associated with being male an older age of onset, and, during one's first drinking experience, consuming liquor, drinking with friends or alone, and experiencing high arousal negative alcohol effects. First-occasion bingers were more likely to be male, consume liquor, and experience stronger high arousal positive and negative alcohol effects than never bingers and to have a later age of onset, experience stronger high arousal negative, and weaker low arousal negative alcohol effects than later-occasion bingers. First-occasion bingers also reported heavier current drinking and more alcohol-related problems. Conclusions Characteristics of underage drinkers that confer risk for a shorter delay and first-occasion binging may provide fruitful targets for intervention, as efforts to delay binge drinking may mitigate alcohol-related risk associated with underage alcohol use.
Anchors of social network awareness index: A key to modeling postdisaster housing recovery

AbstractReestablishment of housing is a crucial component of the recovery process and has a domino effect on the overall timing of recovery. Anchors of social networks, such as schools and churches...
COMPARISON OF SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES AFTER SUPERIOR CAVOPULMONARY CONNECTION WITH AND WITHOUT ELIMINATION OF ANTEGRADE PULMONARY BLOOD FLOW

For single ventricle patients referred for superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC) who have antegrade pulmonary blood flow (APBF), there is uncertainty regarding the relative merits of maintaining ABPF. We sought to study the outcomes following SCPC of children with pre-SCPC APBF, determining
Federalism, Entitlement, and Punishment across the U.S. Social Welfare State

In a 2018 letter the Trump Administration announced that it was open to proposals to include work requirements and other changes in state Medicaid programs. These proposals came in the form of administrative waiver requests that would allow particular states the flexibility to change the rules of Medicaid eligibility in their state. They were seeking permission to condition the receipt of Medicaid on compliance with work requirements and to “align” the Medicaid program with programs like Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The Obama administration had consistently rejected such requests on the grounds that work requirements did not further the aims of the Medicaid program, but the Trump administration felt no such qualms, likening Medicaid to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (colloquially welfare) and arguing that, just like welfare recipients, Medicaid recipients needed to be incentivized to work in order to “build” their dignity. This contest, like many others in the field of social welfare policy, plays out on the terrain of federalism. It is, on the surface, a battle over control among levels of government and over the appropriate rules and structures for particular programs. This chapter argues that these controversies over legal structures, legal rules, and the location of governance, are better understood as arguments about both deservingness and control played out through controversies about administrative structure. In short, programs are called “welfare,” or are urged by some to be more like “welfare,” when what is really meant is that we wish to use the administrative mechanisms of federalism to control, stigmatize, punish, and deter recipients. In contrast, when we perceive recipients as entitled, these mechanisms fall away to be replaced by federally-controlled, far less visible and far more inviting, administrative structures. To make this process visible, this chapter describes the administrative tools of benefit programs as well as the corresponding cultural assumptions tied to each program and then contextualizes a debate like the one over Medicaid work rules using this context.
Doctoral Student Socialization and Professional Pathways

The socialization experience that occurs in the doctoral program occurs on two levels: socialization for the role of graduate student as well as socialization to the future profession. Of those graduating with a doctorate only about half will remain in academia, with the remaining graduates going on to work in industry, government, and business. Despite the diversity of professional pathways that doctoral recipients will pursue, graduate education in the USA has been criticized sharply for its lack of preparation and socialization for these roles. In this chapter, the authors present a discussion of socialization for a diversity of professional pathways, including practical implications for faculty, administrators, potential employers, and students.
Hazardous Drug Exposure: Case Report Analysis From a Prospective, Multisite Study of Oncology Nurses' Exposure in Ambulatory Settings

Background Hazardous drug exposure is an occupational health hazard to oncology nurses. Sparse data are available regarding the frequency and characteristics of hazardous drug spills. Objectives This article aims to describe nurses' hazardous drug exposures and use of personal protective equipment during drug spills. Methods The Drug Exposure Feedback and Education for Nurses' Safety study launched in March 2015. When drug spills occurred, consented RNs administering chemotherapy in ambulatory infusion settings completed brief questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize equipment use and spill events. Findings Spills were common, despite the use of closed-system transfer devices. Over two years, 51 nurses from 12 participating academic infusion centers reported 61 unique spills. Spills commonly involved highly toxic drugs. Personal protective equipment use during drug spills was suboptimal. These foundational data reveal gaps in clinical practice.
Neural mechanisms underlying state mental fatigue in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study

Neuroimaging underpinnings of state (in the moment, transient) mental fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) are not well understood. The current pilot study examined the effect of state mental fatigue on brain activation (measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI]) during conditions of varying cognitive loads of rapid information processing in persons with MS relative to healthy controls. Nineteen persons with MS and 17 healthy controls underwent fMRI scanning while performing a modified version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, which consisted of high and low cognitive load conditions with comparable visual stimulation. State mental fatigue was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale of Fatigue before and after each run of the behavioral task. Results indicated that the healthy control group recruited significantly more anterior brain regions (superior and middle frontal gyri, insula, and superior temporal gyrus) to meet increased task demands during the high cognitive load condition as fatigue level increased (p < 0.05), which was accompanied by shorter response time. In contrast, the MS group did not recruit anterior areas to the same extent as the healthy control group as task demands and fatigue increased. Indeed, the MS group continued to activate more posterior brain regions (precuneus, lingual gyrus, and middle occipital gyrus) for the high cognitive load condition (p < 0.05) with no improvement in speed. In conclusion, persons with MS may allocate neural resources less efficiently than healthy controls when faced with increased task demands, which may result in increased mental fatigue. Results of the current pilot investigation warrant replication with a larger sample size.
Uncertainty analysis of various CO2-Based tracer-gas methods for estimating seasonal ventilation rates in classrooms with different mechanical systems

Abstract Indoor air quality (IAQ) data of 220 classrooms in the Midwestern region of the US were measured during 2015–2017. During three seasons (fall, winter, and spring), indoor and outdoor CO2 concentrations of each classroom were measured under both occupied and unoccupied conditions. To calculate ventilation rates from the collected CO2 data, three main methods derived from the mass-balance equation were used: (1) steady-state; (2) decay rate; and (3) build-up. Since the uncertainty of the individual measurement parameter affects the accuracy or reliability of the calculated, an uncertainty analysis was performed for all three methods. The uncertainty of the estimated ventilation rates in relation to the volume of the classroom, indoor and outdoor CO2 levels, and estimated student CO2 emission rates were determined. The study shows that the steady-state method has the least uncertainty in ventilation rate calculations, while the decay and build-up methods had the lowest and highest values for ventilation rates, respectively. The results also show the estimated ventilation has a larger variance in single-zone systems than in multiple-zone systems. In field measurements, CO2 readings contribute to the largest portion of uncertainty for all three methods. Therefore, with CO2 as the tracer gas, improving the accuracy of CO2 measurement should receive the highest priority for study.
Genome-Edited Coincidence and PMP22-HiBiT Fusion Reporter Cell Lines Enable an Artifact-Suppressive Quantitative High-Throughput Screening Strategy for PMP22 Gene-Dosage Disorder Drug Discovery.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A (CMT1A) is the most common form of hereditary peripheral neuropathies, characterized by genetic duplication of the critical myelin gene Peripheral Myelin Protein 22 (PMP22). PMP22 overexpression results in abnormal Schwann cell differentiation, leading to axonal loss and muscle wasting. Since regulation of PMP22 expression is a major target of therapeutic discovery for CMT1A, we sought to establish unbiased approaches that allow the identification of therapeutic agents for this disease. Using genome editing, we generated a coincidence reporter assay that accurately monitors Pmp22 transcript levels in the S16 rat Schwann cell line, while reducing reporter-based false positives. A quantitative high-throughput screen (qHTS) of 42 577 compounds using this assay revealed diverse novel chemical classes that reduce endogenous Pmp22 transcript levels. Moreover, some of these classes show pharmacological specificity in reducing Pmp22 over another major myelin-associated gene, Mpz (Myelin protein zero). Finally, to investigate whether compound-mediated reduction of Pmp22 transcripts translates to reduced PMP22 protein levels, we edited the S16 genome to generate a reporter assay that expresses a PMP22-HiBiT fusion protein using CRISPR/Cas9. Overall, we present a screening platform that combines genome edited cell lines encoding reporters that monitor transcriptional and post-translational regulation of PMP22 with titration-based screening (e.g., qHTS), which could be efficiently incorporated into drug discovery campaigns for CMT1A.
Characterization of cooking-related ultrafine particles in a US residence and impacts of various intervention strategies

Interventions that improve air exchange or filter the air have the potential to reduce particle exposures from residential cooking. In this study, we evaluated the effect of using a range hood, opening kitchen windows, and using portable air cleaners (PACs) in various home locations on the concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs) at different times and in different rooms during and after cooking. All experiments were conducted using a standardized cooking protocol in a real-world naturally-ventilated apartment located in the northwest United States. Real-time UFP measurements collected from the kitchen, living room, and bedroom locations were used to estimate parameters of a dynamic model, which included time-varying particle emission rates from cooking and particle decay. We found that 1-min mean UFP number concentrations in the kitchen and living room mostly peaked within 0-10 min after cooking ended at levels of 150,000-500,000 particles/cm3. In contrast, the bedroom UFP concentrations were consistently low except for the window-open scenario. While varying considerably with time, the 1-min UFP emission rates were comparable during and within 5-min after cooking, with means (standard deviations) of 0.8 (1.1) × 1012 and 1.1 (1.2) × 1012 particles/min, respectively. Compared with the no-intervention scenario, keeping the kitchen windows open and using a kitchen range hood reduced the mean indoor average UFP concentrations during and 1 h after cooking by ~70% and ~35%, respectively. Along with the range hood on, utilizing a PAC in the kitchen during and after cooking further reduced the mean indoor average UFP levels during and 1 h after cooking by an additional 53%. In contrast, placing the PAC in the living room or bedroom resulted in worse efficacy, with additional 2-13% reductions. These findings provide useful information on how to reduce cooking-related UFP exposure via readily accessible intervention strategies.
MODELING ALTERNATIVE AIR TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS

Abstract This paper describes a range of alternative concepts for the policies and procedures under which the ATFM system operates and a set of integrated models needed to examine their costs and benefits. The concepts represent a multi-stage evolution from the current system to increasingly decentralized approaches to decision-making.
Chapter 11 Schottky Barriers on a-Si: H

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the uses of Schottky barriers to study properties of a-Si:H and also to make good contacts to devices. Schottky barriers allow the probing of band bending near the surface and the determination of the density-of-states distribution inside the energy gap. The height of a Schottky barrier can be obtained from the forward internal photoemission characteristics in the case of thermionic emission in nearly ideal diodes. The C(V) measurements yield the value of the built-in potential and the charge density in the depletion region, if it is uniform (and the deviation from uniformity if it is not). Additional information can be obtained by internal photoemission experiments. Time-of-flight measurements with Schottky barriers can give the potential profile in the depletion layer. The built-in potential can also be obtained from that forward bias at which the collection efficiency of photogenerated carriers tends to zero (the flat-band condition). Another area of study discussed by Nemanich is the structural change that occurs under the electrode due to atomic migration leading to compound formation (silicides) and to phase segregation. Structural changes affect the I ( V ) characteristics. In some cases, inter-diffusion appears to eliminate interfacial defects. Heavy doping of a-Si:H results in thin tunnelable barriers that can be used as ohmic contacts to devices.
The seller's side of the story: Acquisition as courtship and governance as syndicate in entrepreneurial firms

In contrast to the prior acquisitions literature, which has emphasized the buyer's perspective, we examine the seller's perspective. This has important implications for understanding both the acqui...
Attitudinal and demographic differences between male and female corrections officers. A study in three midwestern prisons

In an effort to explore the relationship between gender differences and a variety of variables in Ihe correctional officer environment, questionnaires were sent to all COs employed in a direct custody role in three midwestern prisons. These prisons included a maximum security prison, a reception and diagnostic center, and a minimum security prison. Completed questionnaires were returned by 196 officers (157 male, 39 female). Statistically significant gender differences were found in several demographic, prison-related, and interpersonal variables. These differences are discussed and suggestions for further research are presented.
Identity Theft: Does the Risk Vary With Demographics?

This paper examines whether the likelihood that an individual will experience identity theft varies with the individual's demographic characteristics, using data from the Federal Trade Commission's 2003 survey on identity theft. The likelihood that a person will be a victim of identity theft does appear to vary with the person's demographics. Consumers with higher levels of income are more likely to be victims of ID theft - particularly ID theft that only involves placing unauthorized charges on the victim's existing credit cards. Similarly, those with more education may be somewhat more likely to be victims. On the other hand, older people may face a somewhat reduced risk. Here the reduction appears to be mainly in the risk of experiencing more than just unauthorized charges on existing credit cards, including the risk that new accounts will be opened or other frauds committed using the victim's personal information. Women are more likely to be victims than men. The risk of ID theft also appears to be related to household composition: One is more likely to be a victim if he or she is the only adult who lives in the household. Having more children in the household is also associated with an increased likelihood of becoming a victim of identity theft. Finally, ID theft appears to be more likely if consumers live in some regions of the country than if they live in other regions.
Prenatal Undernutrition and Postnatal Growth Are Associated with Adolescent Thymic Function

The fetal and early infant origins of a number of adult cardiovascular and metabolic diseases have received considerable attention, but the long-term consequences of early environments for human immune function have not been reported. We investigated the effects of pre- and postnatal environments on thymic hormone production in adolescents participating in an ongoing longitudinal study in the Philippines. Prospective data collected at birth, during y 1 of life, in childhood and in adolescence were used to predict plasma thymopoietin concentration in 14- to 15-y-old adolescents (n = 103). Thymopoietin concentration was compared for small-for-gestational-age and appropriate-for-gestational-age individuals while controlling for a range of postnatal exposures. Prenatal undernutrition was significantly associated with reduced thymopoietin production in interaction with the duration of exclusive breast-feeding (P = 0.006). Growth in length during y 1 of life was positively associated with adolescent thymopoietin production (P = 0.002). These associations remained significant after adjusting for a range of potentially confounding variables. These findings provide support for the importance of fetal and early infant programming of thymic function, and suggest that early environments may have long-term implications for immunocompetence and adult disease risk.
Metallothionein-I and -II knock-out mice are not more sensitive than control mice to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine neurotoxicity.

Abstract Oxidative stress, resulting from either excess generation or reduced scavenging of free radicals, has been proposed to play a role in damaging striatal neurons in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxicity. Metallothionein (MT) is a scavenger of oxygen-derived free radicals and it has been suggested that MT protects against oxidative damage in the central nervous system. In the present study we compared MT-I and –II null mice (MT-null) and the parental strain with intact metallothionein genes (control mice) to determine whether the absence of MT protein alters MPTP neurotoxicity. Control and MT-null mice were treated with MPTP at different doses (30, 40 and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) for 11 days. Seven days after the last dose, brains were removed and dopamine (DA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) contents were analyzed in striatum and midbrain by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Striatal DA content in MPTP-treated control mice was reduced by 53, 74 and 84% after 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg, respectively. Similar decreases were observed in MT-null mice treated with MPTP. MT-null mice were not more sensitive than control mice to MPTP neurotoxicity. The data suggest that MT-I and -II proteins do not play a role in protecting against MPTP neurotoxicity.
Photon Shadowing in Nuclei

Photon processes in nuclei are studied using a conventional optical model, interpreted unconventionally. To calibrate the method excellent fits to hadron-nucleus total cross sections are obtained. When applied to photon processes the ''self-absorption'' feature of the model tends to suppress the shadowing from what has previously been predicted. A further suppression is shown to result from the finite width of vector mesons. Reasonable agreement with recent electroproduction data is obtained.
Jagged1 functions downstream of Twist1 in the specification of the coronal suture and the formation of a boundary between osteogenic and non-osteogenic cells

Abstract The Notch pathway is crucial for a wide variety of developmental processes including the formation of tissue boundaries. That it may function in calvarial suture development and figure in the pathophysiology of craniosynostosis was suggested by the demonstration that heterozygous loss of function of JAGGED1 in humans can cause Alagille syndrome, which has craniosynostosis as a feature. We used conditional gene targeting to examine the role of Jagged1 in the development of the skull vault. We demonstrate that Jagged1 is expressed in a layer of mesoderm-derived sutural cells that lie along the osteogenic–non-osteogenic boundary. We show that inactivation of Jagged1 in the mesodermal compartment of the coronal suture, but not in the neural crest compartment, results in craniosynostosis. Mesodermal inactivation of Jagged1 also results in changes in the identity of sutural cells prior to overt osteogenic differentiation, as well as defects in the boundary between osteogenic and non-osteogenic compartments at the coronal suture. These changes, surprisingly, are associated with increased expression of Notch2 and the Notch effector, Hes1, in the sutural mesenchyme. They are also associated with an increase in nuclear β-catenin. In Twist1 mutants, Jagged1 expression in the suture is reduced substantially, suggesting an epistatic relationship between Twist1 and Jagged1. Consistent with such a relationship, Twist1-Jagged1 double heterozygotes exhibit a substantial increase in the severity of craniosynostosis over individual heterozygotes. Our results thus suggest that Jagged1 is an effector of Twist1 in coronal suture development.
Anterior left ventricular aneurysm: Factors associated with the development of sustained ventricular tachycardia

Fifty patients with anteroapical left ventricular aneurysm secondary to prior myocardial infarction underwent aneurysmectomy, at which time endocardial sinus rhythm mapping was performed. Forty patients had a history of recurrent sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, and 10 had an aneurysm but no history of spontaneous sustained tachycardia. A comparison of the clinical, angiographic and sinus rhythm endocardial electrographic characteristics of these two groups revealed that the patients without spontaneous ventricular tachycardia had more severe coronary artery disease (2.6 +/- 0.5 versus 1.9 +/- 0.8 coronary arteries having greater than 70% stenosis; p less than 0.03), underwent surgery earlier after infarction (3 +/- 2 versus 46 +/- 53 months; p less than 0.03) and had less extensive wall motion abnormalities on contrast ventriculography (0 of 8 versus 13 of 35 patients assessed had an abnormally contracting ventriculographic segment length greater than 60%; p less than 0.04). During intraoperative programmed electrical stimulation, all 40 patients with and 4 of 10 without a history of spontaneous ventricular tachycardia had inducible tachycardia. The patients with inducible tachycardia had a larger area of endocardium from which abnormal electrograms (duration greater than 70 ms or amplitude less than 0.7 mV) were recorded (62 +/- 17 versus 45 +/- 20% of electrograms; p less than 0.03) as well as fractionated (duration greater than 90 ms, amplitude less than 0.3 mV) electrograms (20 +/- 14 versus 9 +/- 7% of electrograms; p less than 0.04) than did patients without inducible tachycardia, but there were no angiographic differences between groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Development and Characterization of a Bioselective Adsorption Matrix for Removal of Bacillus cereus Spores from Buffer and Milk

Bioselective adsorption was evaluated as a possible technology for food processing to enhance safety usingBacillus cereusin milk as a model system. Cataphote™ Microbeads class −400 were derivatized by attaching 3-aminopropyl groups (2.7 nm2/molecule) onto the surface of the bead. Carbohydrates on the Fc region of monoclonal antibody 183 againstB. cereusT spores were oxidized with potassium meta-periodate to allow for an oriented antibody immobilization (270 nm2/molecule). The adsorption matrix was characterized for its ability to bindB. cereusspores in comparison to a control matrix containing immobilized bovine serum albumin. When 2.5 × 106spores in skim milk were added to 1 mL of each matrix, the IgG-matrix was capable of removing 96% of that amount, 70% of which were bound with high affinity and were only eluted with 0.1 mol/L acetic acid. In contrast, the control matrix removed 90% of the spores added but only 7% were retained after washing the matrix. In addition, the IgG-matrix showed an excellent regeneration ability; the binding level did not decrease significantly after 28 trials with buffer or milk. Calculations determined that the bioadsorbant was capable of removing 8 × 106spores/m2. Thus, bioselective adsorption has promise as a technology to enhance safety of liquid foods or to improve analytical methodology.
Root and pulpal dentin after surface demineralization

Previous studies have indicated that there may be a difference in connective tissue response to surface demineralized dentin from root and pulpal surface regions. Consequently, it was the purpose of the present investigation to examine the initial surface characteristics of the dentin from these regions to determine if there were differences which could enhance interactions with adjacent connective tissues. Rectangular dentin specimens with opposite faces of root and pulpal region dentin were immersed in a saturated solution of citric acid, pH 1, for 3 min, rinsed, and prepared for examination in an ISI-40 SEM. Comparisons were made between root and pulpal surfaces of the specimens, and with non-acid treated controls. Control specimens were characterized by the presence of a smear layer which obscured the openings of dentinal tubules on all surfaces. Citric acid treatment removed the smear layer, resulted in exposure of dentinal tubule orifices, and produced a mat-like, fibrillar surface texture. The pulpal surface had a more coarse appearance than the root surface. Quantitation of the number and diameter of tubule orifices showed larger values for the pulpal surface. The percentage of die surface area occupied by tubule orifices was significantly greater on the pulpal aspect. It was concluded that surface demineralization of dentin from the pulpal region results in exposure of a greater amount of collagen substrate, and the latter may predestine an enhanced interaction with connective tissue components.
Improving search task performance using subtle gaze direction

A new experiment is presented which demonstrates the usefulness of an image space modulation technique called Subtle Gaze Direction (SGD) for guiding the user in a simple searching task. SGD uses image space modulations in the luminance channel to guide a viewer's gaze about a scene without interrupting their visual experience. The goal of SGD is to direct a viewer's gaze to certain regions of a scene without introducing noticeable changes in the image. Using a simple searching task we compared performance using no modulation, using subtle modulation and using obvious modulation. Results from the experiments show improved performance when using subtle gaze direction, without affecting the user's perception of the image. Results establish the potential of the method for a wide range of applications including gaming, perceptually based rendering, navigation in virtual environments and medical search tasks.
Gate oxide characterization with Ballistic Electron Emission Microscopy

Abstract Ballistic Electron Emission Microscopy (BEEM) is shown to be a versatile new tool for the study of hot electron phenomena in metal-oxide-semiconductor structures. The elusive problem of measuring oxide charge distributions is largely overcome by suitable modeling of the field dependent threshold shifts for both pre-existing defects and stress induced traps. Local oxide breakdowns were seldom observed, and then only after injecting charge dosages that exceeded by several orders of magnitude the best values reported on macroscopic samples.