cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Putin as a flexible politician. Does he imitate Stalin

Abstract The article is about Putin's ‘Jewish anomaly’. Against all expectations, Putin during his tenure as president of the Russian Federation showed in various ways his concern about the life of Jews in his country.
Wilderness medicine: a clinical introduction for medical students

We offered a wilderness medicine selective seminar to first-year medical students at the University of Arizona. Twenty students took the selective, which was designed as an introduction and to stimulate interest in acquiring more in-depth knowledge of the field. Separate sessions were held on specific subject areas: high altitude; wilderness injuries; field water disinfection and diarrheal illnesses; toxic and survival plants; envenomation; underwater medicine; and heat and cold stress. A mountain climb was offered as an optional field experience. Student evaluation indicated the goals of the selective were achieved more than adequately by content and methods. We view the selective as a successful attempt to introduce wilderness medicine to medical students. However, a teaching approach for advanced students could include a more comprehensive approach.
Probiotic Foods and Drugs: Impact of US Regulatory Status on Design of Clinical Trials

Probiotics have been in widespread use since ancient times and are increasingly being consumed to maintain health and to prevent and treat a wide range of conditions. In the United States, probiotics are considered to be foods or biologics, depending on their intended use. This article addresses the similarities and differences between approaches to conducting clinical trials of probiotics as foods (which leads to health claims) or as biologics (which leads to therapeutic claims). Most probiotics are manufactured as foods, which makes it challenging for academic investigators in the United States to meet the requirements of an Investigational New Drug application that enables them to study the therapeutic effects of these novel agents. Although it is important to ensure the safety and quality of probiotic products, there also may be value in adapting the US Food and Drug Administration's Guidance for Industry for Botanical Products to probiotic products, in part to allow the research agenda to move forward with products for which there are no safety concerns.
Harvey Cushing's early treatment of meningiomas: The untold story

Background In his 1938 monograph, Cushing tabulated 313 meningioma cases treated throughout his career at the Johns Hopkins and the Peter Bent Brigham Hospitals. Of these, 18 patients were treated at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Cushing provided basic demographic, perioperative, and outcomes data in his tables, but the operative details for many of his early meningioma cases have not been previously described. Methods After institutional review board approval, and through the courtesy of the Alan Mason Chesney Archives, the surgical files for the Johns Hopkins Hospital from the period 1896 to 1912 were reviewed. Cases diagnosed as endothelioma or dural endothelioma were selected for further analysis. Results Of the 14 patients with available records, 1 were male. The mean age was 34.4 years. Nine patients (64.3%) died during their inpatient stay. Cushing used staged resections in an attempt to minimize blood loss, morbidity, and mortality, albeit with limited success. Conclusions The operative details demonstrate Cushing’s early attention to hemostasis, and use of staged resections in patients with large, highly vascular meningiomas. Cushing’s first 18 cases of meningiomas, treated while a young attending physician at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, are not the most elegant operations in his lengthy series, but serve as an illustration of his ability to transform clinical challenges into opportunities for improvement.
Synthesis and reactivity of μ-η 2 -carbamato complexes of triosmium decacarbonyl

The synthesis of (μ-H)(μ-η2-RR′NCO2)Os3(CO)10 (R=R′=CH3 2a; R=R′=CH2CH3,2b; R=CH3, R′=CH2CH3,2c) and their cyclic analogs (μ-H)(μ-η2- -CO2)Os3(CO)10(n=42d,n=5,2e) from carbon dioxide, secondary amine, and Os3(CO)10(CH3CN)2 (1) are reported. A solid-state structure of2c reveals a bonding mode for the carbamato ligand very similar to that observed for related carboxylato complexes. Compound2c crystallizes in the orthorombic space group Pbca witha=9.136 (3),b=15.310 (4) andc=30.361 (5) A;V=4247 A3,Z=8. Least-squares refinement of 2405 observed reflections gave a final agreement factor ofR=0.043 (R w =0.043). The reactivity of the complexes2a–2e was examined. Compound2c or2b give good yields of the cluster derivatives (μ-H)(μ-X)Os3(CO)10 (X=Cl,3; X=OCH3,4; X=N(CH3)2,7) when reacted with HX. Reaction of2a with P(CH3)3 at 68°C gives good yields of the otherwise difficult to obtain 1,1,2-(P(CH3)3)3Os3(CO)9 (5). Evidence is presented that suggests that2a–2e form by oxidative addition of preformed carbamic acids to1.
Arabidopsis SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR KINASES1 and 2 Are Essential for Tapetum Development and Microspore Maturation

Among the >200 members of the leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase family in Arabidopsis thaliana, only a few have been functionally characterized. Here, we report a critical function in anther development for the SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR KINASE1 (SERK1) and SERK2 genes. Both SERK1 and SERK2 are expressed widely in locules until stage 6 anthers and are more concentrated in the tapetal cell layer later. Whereas serk1 and serk2 single insertion mutants did not show developmental phenotypes, serk1 serk2 double mutants were not able to produce seeds because of a lack of pollen development in mutant anthers. In young buds, double mutant anthers developed normally, but serk1 serk2 microsporangia produced more sporogenous cells that were unable to develop beyond meiosis. Furthermore, serk1 serk2 double mutants developed only three cell layers surrounding the sporogenous cell mass, whereas wild-type anthers developed four cell layers. Further confocal microscopic and molecular analyses showed that serk1 serk2 double mutant anthers lack development of the tapetal cell layer, which accounts for the microspore abortion and male sterility. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the SERK1 and SERK2 receptor kinases function redundantly as an important control point for sporophytic development controlling male gametophyte production.
Warehouse design through dynamic simulation

Intel's new processors in mid-1997 dramatically increased in speed and size over their ancestors. The increased size caused the box volume to increase beyond the capacity of the existing warehouses. New warehouses are under construction, among them an overseas facility. This warehouse is scheduled to be completed soon and will be the first site to implement a new warehouse management system. A simulation model was constructed to identify the labor and equipment required to support warehouse operations. With both the warehouse and warehouse management system still under construction when the simulation analysis was performed, model validation became extremely difficult. Regardless, partial model validation was possible given data from current operations. An in-depth look at how simulation modeling was used to aid in the design of a new warehouse is presented.
HEMODYNAMIC INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS OF CARDIAC PUMPING

This study extracted hemodynamic information from echocardiogram to complement the left ventricle ejection fraction and the stroke volume for cardiac evaluation and diagnosis. The dynamic characteristics of irregular wall motions can be analyzed by kinetic energy fluxes transferred from the left ventricle to the blood flow. A set of cardiac indices is developed for quantification and classification of echocardiogram for clinical application. The pumping characteristics can be further quantified through the work done by pressure and viscous stresses of the ventricle.
Mathematical Modeling of Transport Phenomena During Alloy Solidification

Mathematical modeling of mass, momentum, heat, and species transport phenomena occurring during solidification of metal alloys is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the incorporation of the effects of the solid structure and the interactions between the solid and liquid phases on a microscopic scale into a (macroscopic) model of the transport phenomena occurring at the system scale. Both columnar and equiaxed growth structures, as well as laminar convection of liquid and solid crystals are considered. The macroscopic conservation equations are introduced via a volume averaging approach and commonly made simplifications are examined. Basic constitutive relations for the phase interactions occurring in alloy solidification are presented. Recent progress in including nucleation, microsegregation, undercooling and other microscopic phenomena in the macroscopic equations is reviewed. The specific areas where future theoretical and experimental research is needed are identified.
A role for His-160 in peroxide inhibition of S. cerevisiae S-formylglutathione hydrolase: Evidence for an oxidation sensitive motif

While the general catalytic mechanism of the widespread serine hydrolase superfamily has been documented extensively, much less is known about its varied modes of functional modulation within biological systems. Under oxidizing conditions, inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae S-formylglutathione hydrolase (SFGH, homologous to human esterase D) activity is attributable to a cysteine (Cys-60) adjacent to its catalytic triad and approximately 8.0 A away from the Oγ of the nucleophilic serine. Cys-60 is oxidized to a sulfenic acid in the structure of the Paraoxon-inhibited W197I variant (PDB 3C6B). The structural snap-shot captured an unstable reversibly oxidized state, but it remained unclear as to whether the oxidation occurred before, during, or after the reaction with the organophosphate inhibitor. To determine if the oxidation of Cys-60 was functionally linked to ester hydrolysis, we used kinetic analysis and site-directed mutagenesis in combination with X-ray crystallography. The essential nature of Cys-60 for oxidation is demonstrated by the C60S variant, which is not inhibited by peroxide in the presence or absence of substrate. In the presence of substrate, the rate of inhibition of the WT SFGH by peroxide increases 14-fold, suggesting uncompetitive behavior linking oxidation to ester hydrolysis. Here we found one variant, H160I, which is activated by peroxide. This variant is activated at comparable rates in the presence or absence of substrate, indicating that the conserved His-160 is involved in the inhibitory mechanism linking ester hydrolysis to the oxidation of Cys-60. Copper chloride inhibition experiments show that at least two metal ions bind and inhibit both WT and H160I. A structure of the Paraoxon-inhibited W197I variant soaked with CuCl(2) shows density for one metal ion per monomer at the N-terminus, and density around the Cys-60 sulfur consistent with a sulfinic acid, Cys-SO(2). A Dali structural similarity search uncovered two other enzymes (Bacillus subtilis RsbQ, 1WOM and Clostridium acetobutylicum Lipase-esterase, 3E0X) that contain a similar Cys adjacent to a catalytic triad. We speculate that the regulatory motif uncovered is conserved in some D-type esterases and discuss its structural similarities in the active site of human protective protein (HPP; also known as Cathepsin A).
Routinely measuring and reporting pneumococcal vaccination among immunosuppressed rheumatology outpatients: the first step in improving quality

Objective. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends pneumococcal vaccination for immunocompromised patients. Data suggest that rates of vaccination in this population are not optimal. To support continuous quality improvement efforts, we electronically measured vaccination status among rheumatology outpatients over time. Methods. Using data from administrative (billing) and electronic health record sources, we identified rheumatology clinic patients seen between 1 February 2008 and 31 January 2010 and prescribed an immunosuppressive medication. CDC recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination were applied. We calculated the proportion of eligible patients who were up-to-date with pneumococcal vaccination: (i) while on an immunosuppressive medication and (ii) before newly starting an immunosuppressive medication in the last 12 months. Results. We identified 2763 rheumatology clinic patients on immunosuppressive medications, with 568 initiated in the last 12 months. The mean age was 57 years, 75% were female and 77% were Caucasian. The most frequent disease was RA (50%) and the most common immunosuppressive medication was MTX (59%). Of patients on immunosuppressive medications, 1491/2763 (54%) were up to date with pneumococcal vaccination. Among new initiators of immunosuppressive medications, 258/568 (45%) were vaccinated before starting the immunosuppressive medication. Patients treated by rheumatologists in practice for 410 years were more likely to be up to date with pneumococcal vaccination (72%) than those with providers in practice >10 years (52%, P < 0.001). Conclusion. The proportion of patients who are up to date with documented pneumococcal vaccination was suboptimal in our rheumatology practice. The ability to continuously repeat electronic measurement permits us to initiate continuous quality improvement efforts.
An Empirical Formula for Broad-Band SAR Calculations of Prolate Spheroidal Models of Humans and Animals

An empirical relation for calculating approximate values of the average specific absorption rate (SAR) over a broad-frequency range for any prolate spheroidal model is derived for E-polarized incident plane waves. This formula provides a simple and inexpensive method for calculating the SAR for human and animal models, which otherwise requires complicated and expensive methods of calculation. The formula satisfies the f/sup 2/ SAR behavior at lower frequencies, the resonance characteristic at intermediate frequencies, the 1/f behavior past resonance, and the dependence on the dielectric constant at the geometrical optics limits. An expression for the resonance. frequency f/sub 0/ in terms of the dimensions of the model is also derived. The unknowm expansion coefficients were determined by curve-fitting all the data available in the second edition of the Radiofrequency Radiation Dosimetry Handbook. Numerical results obtained from the empirical relations are generally in good agreement with those calculated by other methods. Limitations of the formula and suggestions for its improvement are also discussed.
Yeast Mating: Trying Out New Pickup Lines

Mating of Ascomycete fungi involves chemically distinct pheromones; one partner makes a lipid-modified peptide, the other partner a simple peptide. A new study has now found that this inherent asymmetry may not be necessary.
Oxide Nonlinear Conductors: A Review

Oxide nonlinear conductors are granular electronic ceramic materials whose electrical behavior is dominated by grain boundary interfaces states. The material is typically comprised of relatively conducting oxide grains with electrical barriers at the grain boundaries induced by segregated impurity ions. Oxide nonlinear conductors can exhibit a highlynonlinear current-voltage relationship with a 5% change in voltage serving to increase the current flow an order of magnitude or more. This review outlines our understanding of the microstructure, grain boundary properties and electrical behavior of these variable resistor or ”varistor„ granular materials. ZnO varistors currently have widespread application in protecting power and signal level electrical circuits against dangerous voltage surges and a brief overview will be given of the applications of this material.
Growth rate responses of Missouri and Lower Yellowstone River fishes to a latitudinal gradient

Growth rate coefficients estimated for channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, emerald shiners Notropis atherinoides, freshwater drums Aplodinotus grunniens, river carpsuckers Carpiodes carpio and saugers Stizostedion canadense collected in 1996-1998 from nine river sections of the Missouri and lower Yellowstone rivers at two life-stages (young-of-the-year and age 1 + years) were significantly different among sections. However, they showed no river-wide latitudinal trend except for age 1 + years emerald shiners that did show a weak negative relation between growth and both latitude and length of growing season. The results suggest growth rates of fishes along the Missouri River system are complex and could be of significance in the management and conservation of fish communities in this altered system.
On the Lifetime of Large Wireless Sensor Networks with Multiple Battery Levels

Large wireless sensor networks promise to revolutionize the way we sense and control the physical world. In large networks the nodes within the range of the base station forward data on behalf of the entire network. Under reasonable assumptions, as this burden significantly shortens the lifespan of these nodes, the network may become disconnected (and, hence, unusable) while considerable battery resources remain unused at the peripheral nodes. To alleviate this undesired effect, we investigate the effect of multiple battery levels to maximize the useful lifetime of the network. We demonstrate a powerful, yet attractively simple scheme to redistribute the total energy budget in multiple (but few) battery levels. We show by theoretical analysis, as well as simulation, that this substantially improves the network lifetime.
Creating remotely accessible "virtual networks" on a single PC to teach computer networking and operating systems

Instruction in the area of computer networking (specifically systems administration) can be cumbersome and ineffective; and is almost always is an expensive prospect when it comes to instructional and lab facilities. Problems arise both in the classroom and the lab when trying to recreate a true computing environment. Two solutions spelled out in this paper, virtual machines and remoting technology, have been implemented to help solve these problems encountered in the delivery of instruction.
The Behavioral Economics of Substance Use Disorders: Reinforcement Pathologies and Their Repair

The field of behavioral economics has made important inroads into the understanding of substance use disorders through the concept of reinforcer pathology. Reinforcer pathology refers to the joint effects of (a) the persistently high valuation of a reinforcer, broadly defined to include tangible commodities and experiences, and/or (b) the excessive preference for the immediate acquisition or consumption of a commodity despite long-term negative outcomes. From this perspective, reinforcer pathology results from the recursive interactions of endogenous person-level variables and exogenous environment-level factors. The current review describes the basic principles of behavioral economics that are central to reinforcer pathology, the processes that engender reinforcer pathology, and the approaches and procedures that can repair reinforcement pathologies. The overall goal of this review is to present a new understanding of substance use disorders as viewed by recent advances in behavioral economics.
Modeling Structures and Motions of Loops in Protein Molecules

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: amarda@gmu.edu (A.S.);kavraki@rice.edu (L.E.K.); Tel.: +1-703-993-4135 (A.S.); Fax: +1-703-993-1710 (A.S.);Tel.: +1-713-348-5737 (L.E.K.); Fax: +1-713-348-5930 (L.E.K.)Received: 26 December 2011; in revised form: 10 January 2012 / Accepted: 3 February 2012 /Published: 13 February 2012Abstract: Unlike the secondary structure elements that connect in protein structures, loopfragments in protein chains are often highly mobile even in generally stable proteins. Thestructural variability of loops is often at the center of a protein’s stability, folding, and evenbiological function. Loops are found to mediate important biological processes, such assignaling, protein-ligand binding, and protein-protein interactions. Modeling conformationsof a loop under physiological conditions remains an open problem in computational biology.This article reviews computational research in loop modeling, highlighting progress andchallenges. Important insight is obtained on potential directions for future research.Keywords: loop modeling; conformational ensemble; equilibrium ﬂuctuations; native state;structural analysis of proteins; structural bioinformatics
Trends as changes in variance; a new slant on progress and directionality in evolution

Trends are the primary phenomenon of macroevolution, but they have often been misinterpreted because an old and deep conceptual error has induced us to misread, as anagenesis in abstracted entities, a pattern that actually records changes in variance by increase or decrease in diversity or disparity among species within clades. These patterns are actually produced by the “entity making and breaking machine” of differential species success, but we misread history as anagenesis because we focus on extreme values (though they may only represent tails in variance of a system), or on measures of central tendency that shift passively as species birth and death work in their differential way. I discuss several examples in two classes: “increase trends” mediated by growth in variance, and “decrease trends” produced by diminution of diversity or disparity. I present two examples in extenso based on original data: threefold occurrence of Cope's rule in planktonic foraminifers as a consequence of increasing species diversity from small founding lineages (increase trend), and disappearance of 400 hitting in baseball as a decrease trend recording symmetrical decline of variance with increasing excellence of play, not the gradual extinction of a valued “thing.” A proper appreciation of trends as changes in variance flows from and into the two most important revisionary themes in modern evolutionary theory: 1) constraint and structure as an antidote to overreliance upon adaptation (questions about why founding lineages tend to be small, and why size ranges are constrained, lie primarily in structural, not adaptational, domains); 2) hierarchy (increase and decrease trends are powered by differential species sorting, not by extrapolated anagenesis of competition among organisms within populations).
COPING WITH TIME PRESSURE AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN BUYER–SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS

Increasingly, suppliers are being tasked to spend large amounts of time with strategic customers in order to promote effective knowledge sharing and coordination between supply chain members. Suppliers are also expected to deal with added pressures on their time from increasing workloads, unanticipated problems and changing priorities. Psychology research suggests that individuals (e.g., supplier personnel) cope with such time pressure by either working faster or avoiding risks. Existing research, however, has largely ignored the impact of these time pressure coping mechanisms (TPCMs) in interactive contexts such as buyer–supplier relationships. This study develops the notion that TPCMs impact knowledge sharing in buyer–supplier relationships. Specifically, results from a between subjects scenario-based experiment indicate that suppliers using TPCMs decrease a buyer's willingness to share knowledge and exchange information. Such adverse effects are most evident in close collaborative buyer–supplier relationships. These findings advance theory and provide insight for managers seeking to improve knowledge sharing through buyer–supplier relationships in today's time-constrained business environment.
The cellular and molecular basis of store-operated calcium entry

The impact of calcium signalling on so many areas of cell biology reflects the crucial role of calcium signals in the control of diverse cellular functions. Despite the precision with which spatial and temporal details of calcium signals have been resolved, a fundamental aspect of the generation of calcium signals -- the activation of 'store-operated channels' (SOCs) -- remains a molecular and mechanistic mystery. Here we review new insights into the exchange of signals between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membrane that result in activation of calcium entry channels mediating crucial long-term calcium signals.
Non-Contact Gas Accumulation Detection in Water Loaded Pipes Using Guided Waves

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Generic Letter 2008-01 due to the safety concern associated with gas accumulation events in emergency core cooling pipes of nuclear power plants. Since the gas accumulation may critically damage pipes, pumps, and valves, and affect the safety operation of nuclear power plants, the gas accumulation needs to be detected as well as quantified.This paper presents a quantitative gas accumulation detection method for water loaded pipes by using guided waves. To establish the detection method, we investigated the differences between guided waves in a free pipe and those in a water loaded pipe. The guided waves in both cases were measured by using a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer, and analyzed by using frequency wavenumber analysis. Analysis results show that guided wave characteristics such as wavenumbers and wave speeds are different between the free and water loaded pipes. Based on those findings, we developed a gas accumulation detection method that can also provide quantitative information of the gas accumulation. Through a proof-of-concept test, the quantitative gas accumulation detection method was verified.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Weaning Protocols in Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation: What Have We Learned?

A weaning protocol in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation increases ventilator-free days as a result of close observation and expedient decision-making. However, the weaning protocol does not influence the rate of successful weaning. The balance between inspiratory muscle load and capacity determines the successful weaning rate. Efforts to improve inspiratory muscle capacity or whole-body rehabilitation, particularly upper limb muscle strength, increase the successful weaning rate. Further studies are necessary to assess the role of inspiratory muscle and upper limb muscle strength training as an integral part of a weaning protocol to shorten weaning time and increase the successful weaning rate.
Measures of global biodiversity dynamics (past and present) are meaningless … or are they?: Introductory comments

One can argue that the critical factors in evolution are competitive interaction, dispersal, and survival in that they determine the life and death of individuals and thus govern gene flow and the waxing and waning of populations; the byproduct of this cascade happens to be the origination and extinction of species and phylogenetic lineages. Perhaps evolutionary “truth” can be found only in petri dish experiments of lichens competing for space, through documentation of the wildly successful ecological invasion of purple loosestrife in ditches of northeastern North America, or by molecular phylogeographic analyses of the distribution of fruit fly lineages across the Hawaiian Islands. Nonetheless, there is something fundamentally intriguing in the fact that there are some 300,000 species of angiosperms currently distributed around the planet; an order of magnitude greater than …
Inhibitor sensitivity of pulmonary vascular carbonic anhydrase

The inhibitor sensitivity of pulmonary vascular carbonic anhydrase (CA) was examined in situ to identify the specific isozyme responsible for vascular activity and to study its distribution in the lung. Vascular CA activity was monitored in isolated rat lungs by measuring the rate of CO2 excretion and the magnitude of postcapillary CO2-HCO(3-)-H+ disequilibria. Lungs were perfused with isotonic salines containing gluconate, sulfate, Cl-, or I-, with or without sulfonamide derivatives. Effects of a CA inhibitor purified from porcine blood plasma were also determined. Vascular CA activity was unaffected by gluconate, sulfate, Cl-, and I- (< or = 100 mM). Sulfonamides with vastly different rates of membrane permeation (i.e., readily permeating ethoxzolamide, slowly permeating acetazolamide, and membrane-impermeant quaternary ammonium sulfanilamide) were capable of accessing all vascular CA with similar rates of access. The porcine inhibitor of CA (340 nM) produced a significant, but submaximal, inhibition of vascular CA activity. The data suggest that pulmonary vascular activity reflects a high-activity membrane-bound isozyme, CA IV, which is located on the extracellular luminal surface of capillary endothelial cells.
Progress in toxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers on the thyroid hormone disruption.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs)are a class of flame retardants used in a variety of consumer products.In the past 25 years,PBDEs have become ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants.They have been detected in soil,air,sediments,birds,marine species,fish,house dust,human tissues,blood and breast milk.Concentrations of PBDEs are particularly high in breast milk and house dust,resulting in high exposure to infants.Laboratory data showed that PBDEs induced toxicity to thyroid gland including changing the levels of thyroid hormone and the shape and structure of follicular cells.Based on the toxicological researches and findings,we summarized their thyroid toxicity and possible toxicity mechanism,analyzed the existing problems in related research field,and discussed the future research directions on PBDEs.
LOW USE OF ORAL ANTICOAGULATION IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND RISK FOR STROKE IN THE UNITED STATES

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, and 1 in 5 strokes are due to atrial fibrillation (AF). Oral anticoagulants (OACs) reduce risk of stroke by 66%, but OAC underuse is a public health concern. Using the FDA's Sentinel System for a needs assessment of a proposed cluster randomized
Effect of Antimicrobial Therapy for Experimental Infections Due to Group B Streptococcus On Mortality and Clearance of Bacteria

In an effort to develop more effective antimicrobial therapy, we evaluated three alternative regimens currently available to clinicians for their efficacy against experimental bacteremia and meningitis due to group B Streptococcus (GBS) in newborn rats: various doses of penicillin G (100, 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg per day), combined penicillin G-gentamicin vs. penicillin G, and ceftriaxone vs. penicillin G. Higher doses of penicillin G and ceftriaxone exhibited significantly greater bactericidal activity in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), whereas the bactericidal activity of penicillin G plus gentamicin was not significantly different from that of penicillin G. Clearance of GBS from blood was significantly more rapid in animals receiving ceftriaxone. However, differences in death rates were not apparent with any single regimen. These findings suggest that clearance of GBS from blood and CSF can be improved by more potent antimicrobial agents, but further reduction in the death rate may be difficult to achieve by antimicrobial therapy alone.
A New Era in Ideas of Systematic Relationships of World Tabanidae (Diptera) Inaugurated by Mackerras, and Its Impact on Nomenclature of Horseflies of the Western Hemisphere

The family Tabanidae has always been popular in the Diptera both to systematists and to those interested in haematophagous parasites as potential disseminators of disease agents. It is within three years of a century since Loew (1860) proposed the first major, suprageneric cleavage in the family based on the presence or absence of hind-tibial spurs to provide two subfamilies or (later) sections. The contents of the family, however, have remained well defined with the exception of certain excluded minor elements of which the latest are the Australian and/or North and South American genera, Pelecorrhynchus, Bequaertomyia, and Heterostomus.
Not all jobs are the same: Predictors of job quality for adults with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND: Some adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) who are competitively employed earn more than minimum wage, receive health benefits from their employers, and have work schedules that accommodate their financial and personal needs. However, most competitively employed adults with ID lack such benefits that are commonly associated with highquality competitive employment. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to look within the population of adults with ID who are competitively employed in order to understand factors related to high-quality competitive employment. METHODS: Respondents included a national sample of 153 parents/guardians of adult children (21 years of age or older) with intellectual disabilities who were competitively employed. These parents/guardians were drawn from a nationally representative sample of 1,055 households which included an adult with an intellectual disability. RESULTS: The results indicated that while high-quality competitive employment is attainable for adults with ID, most competitively employed adults with ID lack benefits including health insurance and salaries that are above minimum wage. Adaptive behavior was related to greater job quality. Also, beyond the influence of adaptive behavior, being at the same job for three or more years significantly predicted higher wages, more work hours, and greater likelihood of receiving health benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Policies and programs should look beyond emphasizing competitive employment as the ultimate goal for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and should seek to promote access to high-quality competitive employment. Improving employment stability may contribute to this goal.
Samples’ Common Feature Based Information Collection for Product Design

Search engine and text filtering technique are all used to help users to gain information they need quickly and precisely.On the basis of researching on user’ s needs expressing methods in search engine and text filtering technique,the paper proposes a method which uses samples’ common feature to express user’s needs,combined with search engine and text filtering technique,it sets up an information collection system for product design.
Changes in Object Relations over the Course of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

This study explores whether object relations (OR) functioning improves over the course of psychodynamic psychotherapy, and whether this improvement is related to symptom decrease as well as therapist technique. The sample consisted of 75 outpatients engaged in short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy at a university-based psychological service clinic. OR functioning was assessed pre- and post-treatment by independent raters using the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale from in-session patient relational narratives. The Comparative Psychotherapy Process Scale was used to assess therapist activity and psychotherapy techniques early in treatment. Independent clinical ratings of global OR and psychotherapy techniques were conducted, and rater agreement was found to be in the excellent range. Regarding the results, global OR (overall quality and level of interpersonal functioning) significantly improved with large effect size after psychodynamic therapy. Change in global OR functioning was significantly and positively related to the incidence of psychodynamic techniques in early sessions, as were number of psychotherapy sessions attended. Patient self-reported reliable change in symptomatology and reliable change in global OR were significantly related as well. Multilevel model analyses confirmed pairwise correlations accounting for therapist effects on a variety of process–outcome measures, number of sessions attended, initial levels of psychiatric symptoms, employment of therapeutic techniques as well overall OR functioning at outcome. Limitations of the present study, future research directions and implications for clinical practice are also discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message: Psychodynamic psychotherapy seems to be effective in improving object relations functioning. Consider use of psychodynamic techniques early in treatment with patients expressing more pathological object representations. Improvements in object relations functioning during psychodynamic psychotherapy are also related to adaptive changes in patient self-reported symptomatology. Therapist effects were also present for the study. As such therapists should be mindful to assess patient change and their use of technique at several points in treatment and flexibly adjust their approach as necessary.
Channel Management: Some Research Findings and Future Directions

This article reviews and integrates the results of theoretical and empirical research on marketing channels. In addition, future research areas that appear to be important are printed out. Emphasis is placed on the interrelationships among the various elements of channels and their relevance to the determination of inter-organizational management and relations. An annotated A.M.A. bibliography served as a basic guide and was supplemented by later works.
The Integration of Product and Capital Markets

As we pointed out in Chapter 3, European commodity and capital markets were on their way to an effective integration centuries before 1850, and we believe that we can show that, by the beginning of the twentieth century, Europe was for many purposes a truly integrated economy, possessing the characteristics which a century later are often associated with the word ‘global’. In a way, this theme has marked our study throughout, and this chapter contains some of the most important evidence in support of this view. We have pursued this topic in earlier chapters, having already discussed the real growth of these economies as well as the growing integration of their financial sectors during this period. In this chapter we add an analysis of the integration of exports and imports, investment expenditures and, finally, nominal and real interest rates. Real integration involves more than these topics, to be sure, and so we shall add a discussion of the integrated business cycle in Chapter 9, as well as a general summary, in Chapter 10, to complete the story.
Microstructure Evolution in SnO 2 and CdO in Reducing Atmospheres

Microstructure control during sintering of ceramics is necessary in order to tailor the microstructure to obtain the properties desired in the final material. Such control can only be achieved through a thorough understanding of the relative contributions of the mass transport mechanisms of bulk, grain boundary, and surface diffusion, and vapor transport. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of diffusion data in the literature making it difficult to compare experimental results to sintering models1,2. On the other hand, vapor phase transport coefficients exist or can easily be calculated permitting comparison between experiment and models if vapor transport is the dominant transport mechanism3.
Inconsistent blood pressure phenotype in female Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

to the editor: The recent article “20-HETE and CYP4A2 ω-hydroxylase contribute to the elevated blood pressure in hyperandrogenemic female rats” by Dalmasso et al. ([3][1]) brings attention to phenotypic irregularities observed in female Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats. This hypertensive rodent
Effective Self-Management Interventions for Patients With Lupus: Potential Impact of Peer Mentoring

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with significant mortality, morbidity and cost for the individual patient and society. In the United States, African Americans (AAs) have 3-4 times greater prevalence of lupus, risk of developing lupus at an earlier age and lupus-related disease activity, organ damage and mortality compared with whites. Evidence-based self-management interventions that incorporate both social support and health education have reduced pain, improved function and delayed disability among patients with lupus. However, AAs and women are still disproportionately affected by lupus. This article presents the argument that peer mentoring may be an especially effective intervention approach for AA women with SLE. SLE peers with a track record of success in lupus management and have a personal perspective that clinicians often lack. This commonality and credibility can establish trust, increase communication and, in turn, decrease disparities in healthcare outcomes.
Perceived Benefits and Barriers of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Chinese American Women.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore the perceived benefits and barriers to cervical cancer screening among Chinese American women using stages of the Transtheoretical Model of Change. . DESIGN Cross-sectional design with self-report surveys. . SETTING Chinese communities (e.g., churches, supermarkets, restaurants) in Northern California and Northern Nevada. . SAMPLE 121 Chinese women aged 21-65 years living in Northern California and Northern Nevada. . METHODS A snowball sampling technique using personal contacts was used. . MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Stages of change and perceived benefits and barriers to cervical cancer screening. . FINDINGS Participants in the action/maintenance stage were most likely to believe that cervical cancer was treatable if caught early. Women in the contemplation/preparation stage were more likely to state that they worried about or feared screening, that it was too expensive, and that they would want to use Chinese medicine to cure an illness before trying Western medicine. Women in the precontemplation/relapse stage were most likely to report that they did not know where to get screened and that their partner would not want them to be screened. . CONCLUSIONS Perceived benefits and barriers to screening were differentially associated with the stages of change. Results may support culturally sensitive and theory-based programs to improve screening rates among Chinese American women. . IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING The results suggest the importance of cultural sensitivity among nursing providers when working with Chinese Americans to provide more relevant, holistic care.
Defying Dissolution: Discovery of Deep-Sea Scleractinian Coral Reefs in the North Pacific.

Deep-sea scleractinian coral reefs are protected ecologically and biologically significant areas that support global fisheries. The absence of observations of deep-sea scleractinian reefs in the Central and Northeast Pacific, combined with the shallow aragonite saturation horizon (ASH) and high carbonate dissolution rates there, fueled the hypothesis that reef formation in the North Pacific was improbable. Despite this, we report the discovery of live scleractinian reefs on six seamounts of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Emperor Seamount Chain at depths of 535–732 m and aragonite saturation state (Ωarag) values of 0.71–1.33. Although the ASH becomes deeper moving northwest along the chains, the depth distribution of the reefs becomes shallower, suggesting the ASH is having little influence on their distribution. Higher chlorophyll moving to the northwest may partially explain the geographic distribution of the reefs. Principle Components Analysis suggests that currents are also an important factor in their distribution, but neither chlorophyll nor the available current data can explain the unexpected depth distribution. Further environmental data is needed to elucidate the reason for the distribution of these reefs. The discovery of reef-forming scleractinians in this region is of concern because a number of the sites occur on seamounts with active trawl fisheries.
A study on intermetallic compound formation in Ag–Al system and evaluation of its mechanical properties by micro-indentation

In electronic packaging in recent years, silver (Ag) alloy wires have been widely adopted in wire-bond processes. The bond pads on the device chips are mostly aluminum (Al). Thus, the bonding interface is mainly Ag–Al. In recent Ag alloy wire-bond publications, it is unclear what intermetallic phases form at the interface. In this research, experiments were designed to understand the Ag–Al intermetallic compound (IMC) formation in the Ag–Al system and evaluate its mechanical properties. First, the Ag–Al alloys with compositions from 19 to 43 at.% Al were evaluated to identify the phase equilibrium and crystal structure of the Ag–Al intermetallic phases. Microstructures and phase compositions of the designed Ag–Al alloys are presented. To further study the intermetallic compound formation at the Ag/Al interface, the interfacial reaction of the Ag/Al joints at 200 °C was investigated. The µ-Ag3Al and δ-Ag2Al IMC were identified to form at the Ag/Al interface and stabilize after long-time annealing at 200 °C. At last, deformation and fracture behaviors of the bulk µ-Ag3Al and δ-Ag2Al were analyzed by the micro-indentation. The measured results reveal that µ-Ag3Al exhibits significantly higher hardness and lower fracture toughness as compared to δ-Ag2Al. Indentation crack propagation in µ-Ag3Al demonstrates the fracture characteristics of brittle materials. In the case of δ-Ag2Al, the presence of slip bands exhibits the ductility of δ-Ag2Al to endure plastic deformation prior to fracture. The effect of the mechanical properties of the µ-Ag3Al and δ-Ag2Al IMC on the Ag–Al joint reliability is discussed. New information obtained in this research is important for future study of the joint reliability and failure mechanism of Ag–Al wire bonds.
A Constraint-Driven Approach to Configuration Binding in an Object-Oriented VHDL CAD System

This paper presents a constraint-driven approach to configuration binding within a VHDL design environment. Configuration binding binds technology-specific cells to generic components. VHDL is extended so a designer can represent dynamically checkable constraints. An object-oriented VLSI data model is examined from a version management point of view. To achieve flexibility of configuration binding, a technique based on our data model is suggested for selecting cells which satisfy constraints from a design library.
Supporting Intelligent Tutoring in CALL by Modeling the User's Grammar

This paper presents a model for representing the proficiency of users in a CALL system by recording their performance on specific grammatical features. The model will be used both to select accurate interpretations of user-written sentences and to focus system-delivered instruction on topics at the frontier of the learner’s competence.
Microscopic Calculations of Alpha-Neutron Scattering

In recent years, many calculations1,2,3 have been reported on three and four body nuclear systems with realistic interactions. The most recent calculations indicate that a microscopic model with realistic two and three nucleon interactions can accurately predict many properties of both 3He and 4He. Calculations of p-shell nuclei will be very valuable as a further test of these interactions. As a first step toward this goal, we have calculated the low energy alpha nucleon phase shifts for the J-1/2 and J-3/2 states. These initial results are for the Reid V84 interaction plus the Urbana Model V1 three nucleon interaction (TNI).
Evaluation of Enhanced Ozone-Biologically Active Filtration Treatment for the Removal of 1,4-Dioxane and Disinfection Byproduct Precursors from Wastewater Effluent.

Ozonation followed by biologically active filtration (BAF) (O3–BAF) treatment has become an alternative to reverse osmosis in potable wastewater reuse applications because of the ability to produce a high-quality effluent while reducing brine production and disposal. In this study, effluent from a sequencing batch membrane bioreactor (SBMBR) was treated by O3–BAF at three specific ozone doses (0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mg O3/mg DOC) and different empty bed contact times (EBCTs; 15–45 min). The reaction of O3 with granular activated carbon (GAC) (O3/GAC) to promote the formation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) was evaluated at 1.0 mg O3/mg DOC followed by BAF at 15–45 min EBCT. The efficacy of these techniques was compared for the removal of O3 refractory 1,4-dioxane and the reduction in the formation of bromate, 35 regulated and unregulated halogenated disinfection byproducts (DBPs), and 8 N-nitrosamines after chloramination. Conventional ozonation (without the presence of GAC during ozonation) removed 6–11% of 1,4-di...