cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Peripherally inserted central catheter-associated bloodstream infection: Risk factors and the role of antibiotic-impregnated catheters for prevention.

Background Antimicrobial-impregnated (AIP) peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) may lower risk of central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) compared with nonantimicrobial-impregnated (NAIP) catheters. We sought to assess risk factors for CLABSI with a focus on the effect of AIP PICCs. Methods CLABSI rate was determined among patients who received PICCs from July 2009 through June 2012 using a retrospective study design. A nested case-control study matched for operators (interventional radiology [IR], infectious diseases [IDs], and the nurse venous access team [VAT]) was conducted to assess risks for PICC CLABSI. Results Eighty-nine PICC CLABSIs (1.66%) occurred among 5,372 PICC placements a mean of 32 days after placement. Higher infection risk (1.75) was observed for IR-placed PICCs compared with ID-placed PICCs (P = .02). In addition, higher infection risk (4.22) was observed for IR-placed PICCS compared with VAT-placed PICCs (P = .0008). IR-placed NAIP catheters, as indicated by multivariate analysis, revealed a 5.45-fold greater CLABSI risk compared with AIP catheters (P Conclusions PICC CLABSIs were highest among patients receiving NAIP catheters in this large study. Highest risk occurred with placement of a tunneled catheter, AIDS, leukemia, and if the indication for PICC was chemotherapy. Our study suggests that the AIP PICC should be considered in all patients receiving PICCs.
A Kinetic Approach to Determining Drug Distribution in Complex Biphasic Systems.

Abstract Pharmaceutical emulsions contain multiple components, such as micellar, aqueous, and oil phases, leading to complex drug transfer and equilibrium phenomena. These complex components present challenges for the bioequivalence assessment of the drug products. The objective of the study was to develop a method that can probe the underlying mechanism and process of drug distribution. The concept of drug partitioning into biphasic systems was used to simplify the complex transfer phenomenon. A kinetic method was developed taking into account the biphasic diffusion. Using this approach, both the rate (kinetics) and the extent (equilibrium) of distribution can be determined. For method development purpose, 3 model compounds (triamcinolone acetonide, difluprednate, and cyclosporine), with expected partition coefficient values ranging from 2 to 6, were tested using the kinetic method and the traditional shake-flask method. The values obtained by the 2 methods for all compounds correlated well (r2 = 0.825). Various organic and aqueous solvents which are commonly encountered in formulations were also tested to determine the impact of phase composition on drug distribution. The kinetic method was found to offer more flexibility in terms of solvent composition and can lead to better understanding for drug distribution and potential drug release in complex biphasic systems.
A critical assessment of data quality and venous effects in sub-millimeter fMRI.

Abstract Advances in hardware, pulse sequences, and reconstruction techniques have made it possible to perform functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at sub-millimeter resolution while maintaining high spatial coverage and acceptable signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we examine whether sub-millimeter fMRI can be used as a routine method for obtaining accurate measurements of fine-scale local neural activity. We conducted fMRI in human visual cortex during a simple event-related visual experiment (7 T, gradient-echo EPI, 0.8-mm isotropic voxels, 2.2-s sampling rate, 84 slices), and developed analysis and visualization tools to assess the quality of the data. Our results fall along three lines of inquiry. First, we find that the acquired fMRI images, combined with appropriate surface-based processing, provide reliable and accurate measurements of fine-scale blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activity patterns. Second, we show that the highly folded structure of cortex causes substantial biases on spatial resolution and data visualization. Third, we examine the well-recognized issue of venous contributions to fMRI signals. In a systematic assessment of large sections of cortex measured at a fine scale, we show that time-averaged T2*-weighted EPI intensity is a simple, robust marker of venous effects. These venous effects are unevenly distributed across cortex, are more pronounced in gyri and outer cortical depths, and are, to a certain degree, in consistent locations across subjects relative to cortical folding. Furthermore, we show that these venous effects are strongly correlated with BOLD responses evoked by the experiment. We conclude that sub-millimeter fMRI can provide robust information about fine-scale BOLD activity patterns, but special care must be exercised in visualizing and interpreting these patterns, especially with regards to the confounding influence of the brain's vasculature. To help translate these methodological findings to neuroscience research, we provide practical suggestions for both high-resolution and standard-resolution fMRI studies.
Electronic Fetal Monitoring and Neonatal Outcomes when a Nuchal Cord Is Present at Delivery.

Objective This study aimed to determine the association between nuchal cord, electronic fetal monitoring parameters, and adverse neonatal outcomes. Study Design This was a prospective cohort study of 8,580 singleton pregnancies. Electronic fetal monitoring was interpreted, and patients with a nuchal cord at delivery were compared with those without. The primary outcome was a composite neonatal morbidity index. Logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. Result Of 8,580 patients, 2,071 (24.14%) had a nuchal cord. There was no difference in the risk of neonatal composite morbidity in patients with or without a nuchal cord (8.69 vs. 8.86%; p = 0.81). Nuchal cord was associated with category II fetal heart tracing and operative vaginal delivery (OVD) (6.4 vs. 4.3%; p Conclusion Nuchal cord is associated with category II electronic fetal monitoring parameters, which may drive increased rates of OVD. However, there is no significant association with neonatal morbidity.
Thyroid Hormone Action and Energy Expenditure

Energy metabolism is one of the most recognized targets of thyroid hormone action, which indeed plays a critical role in modulating energy expenditure in all of its components. This is because thyroid hormone receptors are ubiquitous, and thyroid hormones interact and influence most metabolic pathways in virtually all systems throughout the entire life of the organism. The pleiotropic actions of thyroid hormone are the results of interaction between the local availability of T3 and the signal transduction machinery, which confer in physiologic conditions time and tissue specificity of the hormonal signal despite negligible variations in circulating levels. Historically, the measurement of energy expenditure has been used as the gold standard for the clinical assessment of the hormonal action until the advent of the immunoassays for TSH and thyroid hormone, which have since been used as proxy for measurement of thyroid hormone action. Although the clinical correlates between thyroid hormone action and energy expenditure in cases of extreme dysfunction (florid hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism) are well recognized, there is still controversy on the effects of moderate, subclinical thyroid dysfunction on energy expenditure and, ultimately, on body weight trajectory. Moreover, little information is available on the effects of thyroid hormone replacement therapy on energy expenditure. This mini review is aimed to define the clinical relevance of thyroid hormone action in normal physiology and functional disorders, as well the effects of thyroid hormone therapy on energy expenditure and the effects of changes in energy status on the thyroid hormone axis.
Domination across Space and Time: Smallpox, Relativity, and Climate Ethics

ABSTRACTIn the age of exploration western Eurasia came to dominate much of the world, in part unintentionally, via the medium of smallpox. This was domination across great spatial distances. Analog...
First total synthesis of pro-resolving and tissue-regenerative resolvin sulfido-conjugates

Abstract The first stereospecific total synthesis of the pro-resolving and tissue-regenerative Maresin sulfido-conjugates: 13R,14S-MCTR1, 13R,14S-MCTR2 and 13R,14S-MCTR3, derived from docosahexaenoic acid, has been achieved. The key intermediate 13S,14S-epoxy-Maresin methyl ester was synthesized using a chiral pool strategy starting from 2-deoxy- d -ribose. Wittig reactions, selective epoxide formation and epoxide opening with glutathione, l -cysteinylglycine and l -cysteine methyl ester hydrochloride respectively, were the key steps in the synthesis.
Generalizing Topological Set Operators

Abstract It is well-known that topological spaces can be axiomatically defined by the topological closure operator, i.e., Kuratowski Closure Axioms. Equivalently, they can be axiomatized by other set operators reflecting primitive notions of topology, such as interior operator, derived set operator (or dually, exterior operators, co-derived set operators), or boundary operator. It is also known that topological closure operators (and dually, topological interior operators) can be weakened as in generalized closure (interior) systems. What about boundary operator, exterior operator, and derived set (and co-derived set) operator in the weakened systems? Our paper completely answers this question by showing that these six operators can all be weakened in an appropriate way such that their relationships remain essentially the same as in topological spaces. Our results indicate that topological semantics can be fully relaxed to the weakened systems.
Enhancing group‐based internet obesity treatment: A pilot RCT comparing video and text‐based chat

Objective Internet delivery of behavioural weight control interventions offers potential for broad geographic reach and accessibility, but weight losses online fall short of those produced with the same programme delivered in-person. This pilot study examined feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a video-based platform for delivering weekly chat as part of a 6-month, 24-session online group behavioural weight control programme compared with the established text-based format, which has produced the best online weight losses to date. Method Women with obesity (N = 32) were randomized to either (a) weekly video group chat sessions and provided with a cellular-enabled scale (Video) or (b) Text-based weekly chat sessions and given a digital scale (Text) and followed for 6 months to determine weight loss and treatment engagement. Results Women randomized to the ideo condition lost more weight than those in the Text condition (-5.0 ± 6.0% vs. -3.0 ± 4.1%, respectively) at 6 months, although the difference was not statistically significant. However, women in the Video condition had significantly greater treatment engagement, with greater self-monitoring and website utilization than those in the Text condition. Conclusions Videoconference delivery of group-based online weight control accompanied by a cellular-connected scale may promote greater treatment engagement and weight loss than text-based chat. A larger, adequately powered study is warranted to determine which elements drive these enhanced treatment outcomes.
Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics for SBMA/Kennedy’s Disease

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Despite the fact that the monogenic cause of SBMA has been known for nearly 3 decades, there is no effective treatment for this disease, underscoring the complexity of the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to a loss of motor neurons and muscle in SBMA patients. In the current review, we provide an overview of the system-wide clinical features of SBMA, summarize the structure and function of the AR, discuss both gain-of-function and loss-of-function mechanisms of toxicity caused by polyQ-expanded AR, and describe the cell and animal models utilized in the study of SBMA. Additionally, we summarize previously conducted clinical trials which, despite being based on positive results from preclinical studies, proved to be largely ineffective in the treatment of SBMA; nonetheless, these studies provide important insights as researchers develop the next generation of therapies.
Earth-Effect Emulation Using Periodic Structures in Scaled-Model Characterization of HF Antennas

We present a technique for emulating the impact of the presence of earth on the responses of high-frequency (HF) antennas characterized using scaled-model measurements. Scaled-model measurements are routinely used to characterize the responses of HF antennas, particularly those mounted on physically large platforms. The presence of the ground in the vicinity of such antennas and its electrical parameters can significantly impact the antenna response. However, this impact is not usually taken into account in scaled-model measurements. In this letter, we demonstrate that the earth impact in such scaled-model measurements can be emulated by using a lossy periodic structure, with subwavelength unit-cell dimensions, designed to emulate the electrical properties of the ground at the scaled frequency of operation. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated using a design example for a platform-based HF antenna operating in the vicinity of wet earth. A scaled-model prototype of the antenna and the ground-emulating periodic structure are fabricated and experimentally characterized. Measurement and simulation results demonstrate a good agreement and verify the capability of using this approach to perform more accurate, scaled-model measurement of HF antennas.
The hippocampus and dorso-lateral striatum link distinct types of memories through time and space, respectively

ABSTRACT Different kinds of memories result from the activity of distinct neural networks. In particular, memory for facts and events, known as episodic memory, depends on the integrity of the hippocampus (HPC) while habits involve a part of the basal ganglia known as the putamen in humans and dorso-lateral striatum (DSL) in rodents 1,2. Some of the strongest empirical evidence supporting this view indicates that HPC lesions impair spatial navigation, but leave intact stimulus-response (S-R) behaviors, while DSL lesions result in the opposite pattern of results. This dissociation was recently shown however to be dependent on past experience 34, as it does not occur when animals acquire spatial and response memories concurrently in the same environment. The current work revealed that time and space play distinct and largely complementary roles in linking different types of memories within the HPC and DSL networks. When rats learned spatial navigation and cue response concurrently but in two different contexts, HPC lesions impaired performance in both tasks while DSL lesions affected only cue response. In contrast, when a different group of rats learned the same tasks in one context but during different days, HPC affected spatial navigation only while DSL lesions impaired performance in both tasks. Lesions of the medial striatum (DSM) impaired performance in both tasks regardless of training conditions, indicating that the processes HPC and DSL networks undergo to link distinct memories are specific to these local networks. Comparison of lesion effects across experimental groups and task performance showed that normal spatial and response behaviors can have highly different underpinnings depending upon past experience. These results reveal that based on time and space, different types of memories can be integrated within specific memory networks.
Corporate and Financial Social Leadership in Emerging Markets and the Developing World

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) attributes economic, legal, social, and philanthropic responsibilities within the corporate sector. Sustainable Financial Social Responsibility is primarily addressed by Socially Responsible Investment (SRI). Globalization, political changes and societal trends, but also the current state of the world economy, have leveraged a societal demand for ingraining responsibility into market systems. Corporate and Financial Intergenerational Leadership explores corporate and financial social responsibility by the cases of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) in order to draw attention to contemporary and prospective future opportunities for intergenerational equity. This chapter addresses the concepts of CSR and SRI in emerging markets and the developing world with special attention to top-down and bottom-up approaches. Theoretical descriptions discuss the human constituents of responsibility and the international emergence of CSR, with special attention to multi-stakeholder partnerships. The rise of SRI in the international arena in the wake of stakeholder activism and intrinsic socio-psychological motives are outlined. Recommendations target ingraining social responsibility in economic systems by global governance, multi-stakeholder management, and governmental assistance of the implementation and administration of corporate and financial social responsibility. Transparency and accountability are key for monitoring corporate and financial social responsibility. As for the ongoing adaptation and adoption of CSR and SRI in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, future research must attribute the newly-defined role of social responsibility in the interplay of public and private actors, given concurrent anti-globalization trends.
Evaluating tornado casualty rates in the United States

Abstract Tornadoes account for nearly one fifth of all natural hazard fatalities in the United States, yet there exist no general estimates of casualty rates across the country. Here tornado casualty rates are estimated for all casualty-producing tornadoes over the period 1995–2016 using tornado level information related to the population and total housing units within each damage path. The 22-year United States per-capita casualty rate is 2.3%, while the 22-year United States per-housing unit casualty rate is 5.4%. Injury and fatality rates are also estimated over the same period. The 22-year United States per-capita fatality rate is 0.15% and the per-capita injury rate is 2.1%. The per-housing unit fatality rate is 0.36% and the per-housing unit injury rate is 5.1%. Casualty rates are further examined through subsets of Enhanced Fujita rating, state boundaries, and county boundaries. When used in conjunction with estimates of future changes in tornado behavior and population growth, these casualty rates can help predict tornado casualty events in communities throughout the United States.
Neuromodulation of Epilepsy Networks

Neuromodulation, including first-generation open-loop devices and second-generation closed-loop devices, is a valuable but poorly understood therapeutic option for patients with drug-refractory epilepsy. The precise therapy a patient receives is contingent on the relationship between the patient's own unique neurophysiology and the custom programming of detection and stimulation parameters. Recent evidence demonstrates that therapeutic efficacy can be achieved through neuromodulation of seizure networks, rather than simple disruption of seizure evolution. Nevertheless, the improvement in outcomes achieved combined with its minimally invasive, nondestructive nature make closed-loop stimulation a promising therapy for additional indications, such as generalized and pediatric epilepsy.
Quantitative Comparison of Prone and Supine PERCIST Measurements in Breast Cancer.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is typically performed in the supine position. However, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is performed in prone, as this improves visibility of deep breast tissues. With the emergence of hybrid scanners that integrate molecular information from PET and functional information from MRI, it is of great interest to determine if the prognostic utility of prone PET is equivalent to supine. We compared PERCIST (PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors) measurements between prone and supine FDG-PET in patients with breast cancer and the effect of orientation on predicting pathologic complete response (pCR). In total, 47 patients were enrolled and received up to 6 cycles of neoadjuvant therapy. Prone and supine FDG-PET were performed at baseline (t0 ; n = 46), after cycle 1 (t1 ; n = 1) or 2 (t2 ; n = 10), or after all neoadjuvant therapy (t3 ; n = 19). FDG uptake was quantified by maximum and peak standardized uptake value (SUV) with and without normalization to lean body mass; that is, SUVmax , SUVpeak , SULmax , and SULpeak . PERCIST measurements were performed for each paired baseline and post-treatment scan. Receiver operating characteristic analysis for the prediction of pCR was performed using logistic regression that included age and tumor size as covariates. SUV and SUL metrics were significantly different between orientation (P .98). Importantly, no differences were observed with the PERCIST measurements (P > .6). Overlapping 95% confidence intervals for the receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested no difference at predicting pCR. Therefore, prone and supine PERCIST in this data set were not statistically different.
A Binary Decision Diagram Based Cascade Prognostics Scheme For Power Systems

Cascading outages in power systems is a rare, but important phenomenon with huge social and economic implications. Due to the inherent complexity and heterogeneity of components in power system, analysis and prediction of the current and future states of the system is a challenging task. In this paper, we address prognosis of cascading outages in power systems by employing a novel approach based on reduced ordered binary decision diagrams. We present a systemic way of synthesizing these decision diagrams based on a simple cascade model. We also describe a workflow for finding the emergency load curtailment actions as a part of the mitigation strategy. In the end, we show the applicability of our approach using the standard IEEE 14 bus system.
A Review of Reports on the Cost and Funding of Medicare-for-All

In the US, 30 million people have no health insurance, and the per capita cost of health care is far higher than it is in other countries. To address these problems, many have advocated establishing Medicare-for-All (M4A). This paper reviews seven reports on the costs of M4A that were written by scholars of health economics in universities or private foundations that study health care. Two of these reports also describe in detail how the program might be funded. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have also made suggestions for funding. Judged from the conclusions of the seven reports, it appears that M4A would result in a net decrease in overall US healthcare costs of 5.7% on average. Under M4A, US health care would cost approximately $46,000 billion over 10 years. Over the same period, approximately $23,500 billion in new federal revenue would be needed in place of present-day payments from other sources. This revenue could be raised in many different ways. In this review, 11 possible taxes and fees are highlighted in an example of how the necessary revenue could be raised. Under this example, it would not be necessary to impose a federal sales tax or any new taxes directly on low or middle income households, but high income households and wealthy Americans would likely pay higher taxes.
Application of Forearm FMG signals in Closed Loop Modality-matched Sensory Feedback Stimulation

This study is aimed at exploring a technology that can use the human physiological information, such as Force Myography (FMG) signals to provide sensory feedback to prosthetic hand users. This is based on the principle that with the intent to move the prosthetic hand, the existing limbs in the arm recruit specific group of muscles. These muscles react with a change in the cross-sectional area; piezoelectric sensors placed on these muscles will generate a voltage (FMG signals), in response to the change in muscle volume. The correlation between the amplitude of the FMG signals and intensity of pressure on fingertips during grasping is then computed and a dynamic relation (model) is established through system identification in MATLAB. The estimated models generated a fitting accuracy of more than 80%. The model is then programmed into the Arduino microcontroller, so that a real-time and proportional force feedback is channeled to amputees through a micro actuator. Obtaining such percentages of accuracy in sensory feedback without relying on touch sensors on the prosthetic hand that could be affected by mechanical wear and other interaction factors is promising. Applying advanced signal processing and classification techniques may also refine the findings to better capture and correlate the force variations with the sensory feedback.
People of Cuban Heritage

The experience of Cubans in their homeland and in the US and elsewhere is distinct from other Hispanic groups. The history and culture of Cuba and the Cuban people have been heavily influenced by Spain, the US, the Soviet Union, and through the slave trade in Cuba’s sugar industry by West African groups such as the Yoruba. Cubans have relocated to Spain, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, and other Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as Canada and European nations such as Germany, Italy, and France. Little is written about Cubans who have migrated to these countries. This chapter follows the dominant values and beliefs according to the 12 domains of the Purnell Model of Cultural Competence: overview/heritage, communication, family roles and organization, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, nutrition, pregnancy, death rituals, spirituality, health-care practices, and health-care practitioners.
Induction of Brain Tumors by the Archetype Strain of Human Neurotropic JCPyV in a Transgenic Mouse Model

JC Virus (JCPyV), a member of the Polyomaviridiae family, is a human neurotropic virus with world-wide distribution. JCPyV is the established opportunistic infectious agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a fatal demyelinating disease, which results from the cytolytic infection of oligodendrocytes. Mutations in the regulatory region of JCPyV determine the different viral strains. Mad-1 the strain associated with PML contains two 98 base pair repeats, whereas the archetype strain (CY), which is the transmissible form of JCPyV, contains only one 98 tandem with two insertions of 62 and 23 base pairs respectively. The oncogenicity of JCPyV has been suspected since direct inoculation into the brain of rodents and primates resulted in the development of brain tumors and has been attributed to the viral protein, T-Antigen. To further understand the oncogenicity of JCPyV, a transgenic mouse colony containing the early region of the archetype strain (CY), under the regulation of its own promoter was generated. These transgenic animals developed tumors of neural crest origin, including: primitive neuroectodermal tumors, medulloblastomas, adrenal neuroblastomas, pituitary tumors, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and glioblastomas. Neoplastic cells from all different phenotypes express T-Antigen. The close parallels between the tumors developed by these transgenic animals and human CNS tumors make this animal model an excellent tool for the study of viral oncogenesis.
Blocking serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors attenuates the acquisition of methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference in adult female rats

Methamphetamine withdrawal can induce intense cravings leading to relapse. Contexts/cues paired with chronic methamphetamine use develop incentive motivational properties, promoting future drug-seeking and taking behavior. Research has shown that, in adult male rats, the selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist M100907 attenuates the acquisition of methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), a measure that examines conditioned associations between the rewarding properties of drugs and contexts. However, these findings have not been extended to adult female rats. The present study investigated the effects of M100907 on the acquisition of methamphetamine-CPP in adult female rats. During conditioning, rats were administered M100907 (0, 0.025, 0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) 15 min before methamphetamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and then placed into their initially non-preferred chamber for 30 min, or administered saline and placed into their initially preferred chamber for 30 min. Conditioning sessions were separated by four hours. Following four days of conditioning, the effects of M100907 on the acquisition of methamphetamine-CPP were assessed during a 15 min drug-free test trial. Pretreatment with M100907 dose-dependently attenuated the acquisition of methamphetamine-induced CPP. Blocking 5-HT2A receptors with a low dose of the selective antagonist M100907 attenuated the rewarding effects of methamphetamine in adult female rats. These data provide further evidence that the 5-HT2A receptor subtype is involved in the behavioral effects of methamphetamine.
Mini-synplastomes for plastid genetic engineering.

In the age of synthetic biology, plastid engineering requires a nimble platform to introduce novel synthetic circuits in plants. While effective for integrating relatively small constructs into the plastome, plastid engineering via homologous recombination of transgenes is over 30 years old. Here we show the design-build-test of a novel synthetic genome structure that does not disturb the native plastome: the 'mini-synplastome'. The mini-synplastome was inspired by dinoflagellate plastome organization, which is comprised of numerous minicircles residing in the plastid instead of a single organellar genome molecule. The first mini-synplastome in plants was developed in vitro to meet the following criteria: (i) episomal replication in plastids; (ii) facile cloning; (iii) predictable transgene expression in plastids; (iv) non-integration of vector sequences into the endogenous plastome; and (v) autonomous persistence in the plant over generations in the absence of exogenous selection pressure. Mini-synplastomes are anticipated to revolutionize chloroplast biotechnology, enable facile marker-free plastid engineering, and provide an unparalleled platform for one-step metabolic engineering in plants.
Organization and Control of Engineering Design Firms

Over the past decade, the character of major U.S. civil engineering design firms has shofted from partnerships to hierarchical corporate structures. Since many large c.e. firms have information systems geared both to their prior organizational structure and to obsolete MIS technology, they are now experiencing the need to update their systems and for face new management issues. This paper introduces the new MIS capabilities and describes the mix of hierarchical and matrix structures found in typical large A/E firms. Using a typical set of organizational objectives, appropriate accountability measures and their uses are suggested. Uses of desirable conflicts are then proposed in order to attain timely data entry and reliability of information. Some example system characteristics are proposed to illustrate the support of objectives and utilization of conflicts. These include issues of profit center and cost center accounting, including transfer pricing on fees and costs, integration of manpower planning with estimates to complete, and use of system information as a single data source.
Photosynthesis research: advances through molecular biology - the beginnings, 1975-1980s and on...

Restriction endonuclease recognition sites and genes for rRNAs were first mapped on chloroplast chromosomes in 1975–1976. This marked the beginning of the application of molecular biology tools to photosynthesis research. In the first phase, knowledge about proteins involved in photosynthesis was used to identify plastid and nuclear genes encoding these proteins on cloned segments of DNA. Soon afterwards the DNA sequences of the cloned genes revealed the full primary sequences of the proteins. Knowledge of the primary amino acid sequences provided deeper understanding of the functioning of the protein and interactions among proteins of the photosynthetic apparatus. Later, as chloroplast DNA sequencing proceeded, genes were discovered that encoded proteins that had not been known to be part of the photosynthetic apparatus. This more complete knowledge of the composition of reaction centers and of the primary amino acid sequences of individual proteins comprising the reaction centers opened the way to determining the three-dimensional structures of reaction centers. At present, the availability of cloned genes, knowledge of the gene sequences and systems developed to genetically manipulate photosynthetic organisms is permitting experimental inquiries to be made into crucial details of the photosynthetic process.
Dynamics of the direct intrusion of Gulf Stream ring water onto the Mid-Atlantic Bight shelf

Onshore intrusions of offshore waters onto the Mid-Atlantic Bight shelf can greatly affect shelf circulation, biogeochemistry, and fisheries. Previous studies have concentrated on onshore intrusions of slope water. Here we present a direct intrusion of Gulf Stream warm-core ring water onto the shelf representing a previously unknown exchange process at the shelfbreak. Impingement of warm-core rings at the shelfbreak generates along-isobath intrusions that grow like Pinocchio's nose, extending hundreds of kilometers to the southwest. By combining satellite and Ocean Observatory Initiative Pioneer Array data and idealized numerical simulations, we discover that the intrusion results from topographically induced vorticity variation of the ring water, rather than from entrainment of the shelfbreak frontal jet. This intrusion of the Gulf Stream ring water has important biogeochemical implications and could facilitate migration of marine species across the shelfbreak barrier and transport low-nutrient surface Gulf Stream ring water to the otherwise productive shelfbreak region.
Impact of fisheries on rural development

Abstract Fish are the most efficient converters of food for human consumption of any animal. They do not require agricultural land or compete for human food. In fact, their aquatic environment can be utilized for other purposes, eg drinking water, irrigation or hydraulic power. Fish cultivation requires between 1 3 and 1 30 th of the energy needed by agriculture. Of the world's meat production, the largest share is made up of fish. However, 30% of total fish production is used for animal feed. In fact fish culture only requires two basic elements: water and light.
Ethics, Power and Communities: Corporate Social Responsibility Revisited

Ally-building can be an ethical pursuit in developing sources of power for the business manager. The commitment to social responsibility is a source of power, as well as an ethical practice for corporate endeavors. Pfeffer promotes a business manager’s ability to develop effectiveness with ties to powerful others in an intra-organizational environment. This paper advances an analysis about how individuals in corporations may use an inter-organizational approach to developing sources of power through a notion of corporate social responsibility. As such, a more meaningful qualitative reciprocity between corporations and the communities in which they operate can be developed. And, this relationship develops a source of power for the individual involved in this effort. In other words, relationships with powerful others in the community could develop by revisiting CSR based on reciprocity and exchange of sustainability in a community, rather than on a notion of paternal responsibility to some particular construct in society.
THREE-CAMERA STEREO VISION FOR INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

A major obstacle in the application of stereo vision to intelligent transportation system is high computational cost. In this paper, a PC based three-camera stereo vision system constructed with off-the-shelf components is described. The system serves as a tool for developing and testing robust algorithms which approach real-time performance. We present an edge based, subpixel stereo algorithm which is adapted to permit accurate distance measurements to objects in the field of view using a compact camera assembly. Once computed, the 3D scene information may be directly applied to a number of in-vehicle applications, such as adaptive cruise control, obstacle detection, and lane tracking. Moreover, since the largest computational costs is incurred in generating the 3D scene information, multiple applications that leverage this information can be implemented in a single system with minimal cost. On-road applications, such as vehicle counting and incident detection, are also possible. Preliminary in-vehicle road trial results are presented.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Friction and wear of single-crystal silicon at elevated temperatures

Single-crystal silicon wafers ((1 1 1) and (1 0 0)p-type) were abraded at room temperature 300 °C, and 600 °C by a polycrystalline partially stabilized zirconia ball in a ball-on reciprocating flat geometry. The sliding direction was 〈1 1 0〉. The friction coefficient was recorded as a function of reciprocating strokes and the deformation mode of the silicon. The friction coefficient at room temperature decreased with the number of strokes, and this variation was less affected by the number of strokes at the higher temperatures. The wear track width and depth were measured at the three temperatures. Wear increases as the temperature is raised to 300 and 600 °C. Optical and scanning electron microscopy of the subsurface damage reveals that cracks are generated at RT and 300 °C and dislocations are produced at 600 °C. The change in deformation mode with temperature from brittle fracture to plastic deformation accounts for the differences in wear.
Optimal Control of Self-Adjoint Systems

Given the system x?(t)=A(t)x(t)+u(t),where A(t)=?A?(t) and ?u(t)??1, it will be shown that the control u=?x(t)/?x(t)? drives any initial state to zero in such a manner that the response time, the consumed fuel, and a linear combination of time and control energy are minnimized. The theory is applied to the optimum angular velocity cotrol of a tumbling space body.
Authoritarianism and fear responses to pictures: The role of social differences

Authoritarianism can be defined as the covariation of authoritarian submission, authoritarian aggression, and conventionalism (Altemeyer, 1981). All three of these tendencies involve adherence to specific standards of behavior: standards that could be exposed to threat and disruption. This study is an investigation of the self-reported fear of authoritarians in response to threats. A sample of 126 university students was exposed to a series of pictures of potentially threatening people and situations. In general, participants with high scores on authoritarianism were more fearful than participants with low scores. This result was found for both social threats (i.e., social differences, social disorder) and personal threats (i.e., animals, dangerous situations). The strongest association between authoritarianism and fear involved cases of social differences, defined as elements of a person's appearance or behavior that involve diversity or deviance from common social norms. Regression analyses also indicated that variation in authoritarianism could be best predicted by fear of social differences. Thus, these data suggest that authoritarians are relatively sensitive to threat, and particularly to threats involving the "outsider" who does not fit authoritarian standards of uniformity and order. The data are also consistent with recent research and theory that right-wing ideology is at least partly motivated by threat and fear.
In vivo measurement of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms using palmtop computers

Abstract We used palmtop computers to gather in vivo self-report data on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and other environmental and mood variables from 13 outpatients with OCD. The study participants carried palmtop computers with them for a period of 3 days. The computers beeped hourly between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., prompting participants to complete a computer-based questionnaire which included a modified version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). The data were examined for evidence of circadian patterns in symptom intensity. No such patterns were evident. Several hypotheses regarding associations among symptoms of OCD, mood, and environmental factors were tested with mixed results. Data collected via computer-administered Y-BOCS questionnaires showed only moderate agreement with data from clinician-administered Y-BOCS interviews. Several problems in the design of the study were evident in hindsight. These problems are discussed and suggestions for the design of future studies and data-collection software are offered. The methods employed in this study could be adapted for research into other areas of normal and pathological psychological functioning. Furthermore, these methods may prove useful as fine-grained assessment tools in clinical settings.
Auto-tuning of digitally controlled boost Power Factor Correction rectifiers operating in continuous conduction mode

This paper presents a robust auto-tuning technique for digitally controlled boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) rectifiers operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM). The proposed tuning approach perturbs the PFC current and voltage control loops through injection of digital perturbation signals, and achieves the desired crossover frequencies and phase margins for wide ranges of operating conditions and power-stage parameters through simple compensator gain adjustments. An added benefit of the proposed approach is a precise estimation of the filter inductance and capacitance values as a result of the tuning process, therefore providing useful information for any digital current-programmed control technique. Experimental results presented for a 300 W boost PFC rectifier demonstrate effectiveness, and robustness of the proposed technique.
CBE growth of InP using BPE and TBP: a comparative study

Abstract Results of a comparative study on the growth of indium phosphide (InP) by chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) using two alternative phosphorous (P)-precursors, bisphosphinoethane (BPE) and tertiarybutylphosphine (TBP), are presented. For both P-precursors, ethyldimethylindium (EDMIn) was used as the indium (In) precursor. TBP has gained wide acceptance in gas phase growth techniques such as organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE) and CBE and its variants. However, BPE has not been extensively applied to CBE growth with only preliminary results of CBE-grown InP using BPE having been published to date. This paper presents the first systematic study on the growth rate and efficiency, morphology, electrical and optical properties of CBE-grown InP using BPE. We compare these results to data obtained for CBE-grown InP using TBP. To make this comparison more meaningful, all TBP and BPE growth runs were performed in sequence using the same CBE hardware under identical experimental conditions. Duplicate sets of sample runs were grown to verify reproducibility. Details of the effects of substrate temperature, cracker cell temperature and V III ratio on the electrical transport properties determined from 77 K and room-temperature Hall measurements and the optical properties characterized by 14 K photoluminescence (PL) measurements are presented. The Hall carrier concentrations and PL data strongly correlate with the sulfur impurity levels measured by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). All of the undoped InP epitaxial layers show n-type conductivity. Striking similarities in the electrical and optical properties of InP grown using either BPE or TBP were observed indicating that BPE and TBP, in many respects, can be viewed as interchangeable P-sources.
Two- and three-dimensional results for rotationally symmetric deformations of circular cylindrical shells

Abstract Previous considerations by asymptotic expansion procedures of the relation between elasticity theory results and thin-shell theory results for the case of rotationally symmetric deformations of an edge-loaded semi-infinite circular cylindrical shell are supplemented by an analysis of this problem for a shell possessing a limiting-type orthotropy, such that transverse normal strains vanish identically. It is shown that assuming this kind of orthotropy has the important benefit of allowing the derivation of exact expressions for the edge zone solution contribution, when such exact expressions are not possible for the problem of the shell with more general properties of the material. One result of the present analysis is an answer to the following question. Given a shell with arbitrarily prescribed edge displacements (compatible with the assumed type of orthotropy), what is the asymptotically exact form of the corresponding conditions for this same problem, treated within the framework of two-dimensional thin-shell theory?
Coronal lines in near infrared spectrum of Nova Cygni 1975

WE have been monitoring the 2- and 3-µm spectral regions of Nova Cygni 1975 at irregular intervals. Shortly after maximum, these spectral regions were dominated by the lines of hydrogen and a few of neutral helium superposed on a continuum presumably of free–free radiation. These spectra could be quantitatively interpreted on traditional recombination theory1, assuming a temperature of ∼ 104 K. Beginning with a spectrum obtained on September 29, 1975 a number of additional lines have appeared in the spectrum. These new lines have increased in strength so that in our most recent data they nearly dominate these spectral regions. These two phases of the spectral development of Nova Cygni 1975 are illustrated for the 2- and 3-µm spectral regions in Figs 1 and 2.
Helical inverse cascade in three-dimensional turbulence as a fundamental dominant mechanism in mesoscale atmospheric phenomena

Abstract The concept of helical cyclogenesis developed by the authors [19] is further elaborated and applied to a variety of mesoscale atmospheric phenomena. It is shown that the helical nature of developed turbulence responsible for the existence of an inverse cascade in 3-D turbulent flows can serve as an efficient mechanism of energy transfer from small scales to large ones in anisotropic atmospheric flows. The theory of helical inverse cascade enables one to calculate the typical parameters of large atmospheric phenomena such as tropical cyclones, subtropical hurricanes, polar lows, and the like. Compatibility with observations is good. The global spectrum of atmospheric turbulence as proclaimed through cloud cluster formation is considered. It is shown that the spectrum should be dominated by the one k − 5 3 power law, although the nature of this law is quite different for different scales. The scales of all mesoscale stable structures are related to two fundamental breaks in this scaling law: the one that is determined by the vertical scale of the free atmosphere; the other one that is determined by the intervention of the Coriolis force. The intricate topological organization of atmospheric turbulence is discussed.