cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of transesophageal echocardiography in assessing diastolic dysfunction in a large clinical practice: a 9-year experience.

Abstract Background: Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography with respiratory monitoring has been used to characterize diseases that impair diastolic function. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has emerged as a complementary technique to evaluate patients with these diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in a large clinical practice the utility of TEE with respiratory monitoring for classification of patients with diastolic dysfunction. Methods: Over a 9-year period TEE was used to examine 192 patients referred to an echocardiography laboratory for additional evaluation of abnormal diastolic function. We performed pulsed-wave Doppler TEE of the left ventricular inflow and pulmonary veins and respiratory monitoring to categorize patients as showing restrictive physiologic features, constriction with or without effusion, mixed constriction and restriction, abnormal relaxation, pseudonormalization, large pericardial effusion or tamponade, or normal diastolic function. Results: Patients with diastolic dysfunction underwent 3% of the total number of transesophageal studies conducted during the study period. Among the 192 patients referred for TEE, abnormal diastolic function was found in 181 (94%); 11 (6%) had normal diastolic function. Seventy-one (39%) of the 181 patients had restrictive physiologic features. Constrictive pericarditis was found in 54 (30%) of the patients and was confirmed for all 31 patients who underwent pericardiectomy. Mixed constriction and restriction was present in 21 (12%) of the patients. The other 35 patients (19%) had abnormal relaxation, pseudonormalization, or large pericardial effusion or tamponade. The cause of diastolic dysfunction was idiopathic for 32% of the patients, previous cardiac operation for 26%, cardiac amyloidosis for 23%, radiation therapy for 11%, and hypertension or advanced ischemic heart disease for 8%. Conclusion: Two-dimensional and Doppler TEE with respiratory monitoring is useful in categorizing patients with impaired diastolic function, primarily into those with restrictive physiologic features or constrictive pericarditis. (Am Heart J 1999;138:880-9.)
Chromosomal aberrations in mouse lymphocytes exposed in vitro and in vivo to benzidine and 5 related aromatic amines

Mouse lymphocytes were exposed in vitro for 2 h or in vivo for 24 h to benzidine and related aromatic amines to test for chromosome aberrations (CA) and mitotic indices. Uninduced mouse $9 was used to activate the amines for the in vitro tests to be consistent with the in vivo tests. Contrary to a previous report, no difference could be established in the genotoxicity of benzidine following activation with uninduced $9 compared to induced $9. There were concentration related increases in CA for benzidine and all the amines in vitro except for 4,4'-diaminostilbene which exhibited the greatest cellular toxicity towards cultured lymphocytes. Benzidine and its derivatives showed significant increases in CA in vivo compared to its negative control. The CA values for 4-aminostilbene were significantly higher than the other amines in both in vivo and in vitro studies. These genotoxicity results for 4-aminostilbene are consistent with our previous report of the pronounced CA effects in murine bone-marrow cells but would not be predicted from Salmonella mutagenicity tests.
Citizen Satisfaction and Administrative Performance Measures Is there Really a Link

The most recent reform in public service delivery is predicated on an assumption that the kinds of activities that managers can measure are the dimensions of service that citizens value. The link between administrative performance measures and citizen satisfaction with services has been tested within cities but not among cities, owing to data comparability difficulties. This test for a relationship between police and fire service performance and citizen satisfaction with police and fire services across 50 localities does not reveal the result predicted in the public management literature. Some implications and recommendations for future specifications of the relationship are offered in conclusion.
Environmental chemical mapping using an underwater mass spectrometer

Abstract An underwater mass spectrometer (MS) deployed on a remotely guided surface vehicle was used to monitor a suite of dissolved gases and volatile organics in saltwater and freshwater environments. Spectrometer data were acquired at a rate of 0.7–3.6 s/sample for 2–3 h. The resulting multi-analyte spectrometer data were recorded in real time with the Global Positioning System (GPS) observations of the surface vehicle and transmitted to a remote laptop computer via a wireless Ethernet link. These data were merged to create high-resolution maps of chemical distributions.
Blood, Brain, and Cerebrospinal Fluid Concentrations of Several Antibiotics in Rabbits with Intact and Inflamed Meninges

Because cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibiotic levels fail to predict either clinical success or relapse in the treatment of bacterial meningitis, we examined simultaneous antibiotic concentrations in the blood, brain, and CSF of control rabbits and of animals with experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Cefamandole pharmacokinetics were analyzed in detail and compared with those of cephalothin, ampicillin, penicillin G, and tobramycin. After 4 h of continuous intravenous infusion, cefamandole reached concentrations in both brain and CSF in excess of the minimal bactericidal concentration for the test organism and compared favorably with ampicillin and penicillin in achieving bacteriological cure. Cephalothin levels in the central nervous system remained undetectable in both control and infected animals during this time. Tobramycin concentrations were measurable in the CSF, but not in brain tissue in association with an inflammatory stimulus.
Behavioral and neurochemical sequelae in young rats of antenal hypoxia.

Abstract To test the hypothesis that perinatal hypoxia may have postnatal consequences via a vis learning memory, and neurochemical sequelae, we exposed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to 10.5% O 2 for 4 h per day (0800–1200 h) or continuously from gestional day E15 to E20. On E20 we quantified ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamine concentrations in fetal brain. We also conducted behavioral tests from postnatal day P3 to PI 10. Relatively mild antenatal hypoxia resulted in altered learning, memory, and delayed maturation of early developmental sensorimotor function. These behavioral changes disappeared at various postnatal ages, depending on the function. Perinatal hypoxia also altered the pharmacological response to dopaminergic drugs. In addition, antenatal hypoxia feminized a male nonreproductive sexual behavior, that of saccharin preference. Acute hypoxia also resulted in an increase in the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase and polyamines, which may affect brain development.
Removal of PsaF alters forward electron transfer in photosystem I: evidence for fast reoxidation of QK-A in subunit deletion mutants of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002.

Recent studies of point mutations in photosystem I have suggested that the two kinetic phases of phylloquinone reoxidation represent electron transfer in the two branches of cofactors. This interpretation implies that changes in the relative amplitudes of the two kinetic phases represent a change in the extent of electron transfer in the two branches. Using time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), this issue is investigated in subunit deletion mutants of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. The spin-polarized EPR signals of P700+A1- and P700+FeS-, both at room temperature and in frozen solution, are altered by deletion of PsaF and/or PsaE, and the differences from the wild type are much more pronounced in PS I complexes isolated from the mutants using Triton X-100 rather than n-dodecyl β-d-maltopyranoside. The changes in the transient EPR data for the mutant complexes are consistent with a significant fraction of reaction centers showing (i) faster electron transfer from A1- to FX, (ii) slower forward ...
Medical Cannabis Patients: Patient Profiles and Health Care Utilization Patterns

The possible medicinal uses of cannabis are growing, yet research on how patients use medical cannabis facility services remains scarce. This article reports on the Cannabis Care Study, in which 130 medical cannabis patients at seven facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area were surveyed to gather information about demographics, personal health practices, health outcomes, service use, and satisfaction with medical cannabis facilities. The study was modeled after Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Results show that patients tend to be males older than 35, identify with multiple ethnicities, and report variable symptom duration and current health status. Nearly half the sample reported substituting cannabis for alcohol and illegal drugs; 74% reported substituting it for prescription drugs. Satisfaction did not differ across study sites and was significantly higher than nationally reported satisfaction with health care. Implications for the medical cannabis community and the greater system o...
Uncoupling of Muscle Shortening from Contractile Force in Intact Heart

It is well accepted that myocardial segment shortening is preceded by, and dependent upon, development of isometric force. In other words, muscle shortening is coupled in both time and amplitude to force; therefore it is assumed that dysfunctional contraction (e.g., in stunned myocardium) must be due to depressed contractility. However, it is also possible that dysfunctional shortening would result from poor coupling between force and shortening. This study was designed to test this hypothesis, and to show that it is possible to reversibly dissociate shortening from force development under certain conditions. In open-chest anesthetized dogs, 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), acetylcholine and dobutamine were each injected directly into the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The LAD was then ligated for 10 min to produce local myocardial ischemia, followed by reperfusion. In addition to global hemodynamics, regional myocardial force and segment shortening were measured in both the LAD-perfused area and that perfused by the circumflex coronary artery which served as a control area. It was found that both BDM and postischemic reperfusion produced significantly reduced fiber shortening (from 17.1± 1.5% to 5.4± 1.1% and 6.5± 2.3% respectively), but regional force was not depressed (from 11.1± 1.3 to 22.5± 2.6 g and 16.6± 2.7 g). This led to a decrease in the ratio of shortening/force (from 100 to 14.8± 2.5% and 28.2± 6.4%). Dyskinesis produced by BDM and ischemia reperfusion was also manifested by elevated end-diastolic length (EDL), prolonged delay to shortening, systolic bulge, elevated end-shortening time delay, and tail work ratio. In contrast, intracoronay acetylcholine produced a similar decrease in both force (from 11.1± 1.3 to 7.4± 1.4 g) and muscle shortening (from 17.1± 1.5 to 9.3± 1.6%); and dobutamine caused comparable increases in both force (from 11.1± 1.3 to 20.0± 3.6 g) and shortening (from 17.1± 1.5 to 24.0± 3.1%). The ratio of shortening/force was relatively unchanged. It is concluded that uncoupling of force/shortening may produce regional dysfunction, even in the presence of normal contractility. Thus, assessment of wall motion alone may not always be an accurate estimation of myocardial contractile mechanisms.
When vegetation change alters ecosystem water availability

The combined effects of vegetation and climate change on biosphere-atmosphere water vapor (H2 O) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) exchanges are expected to vary depending, in part, on how biotic activity is controlled by and alters water availability. This is particularly important when a change in ecosystem composition alters the fractional covers of bare soil, grass, and woody plants so as to influence the accessibility of shallower vs. deeper soil water pools. To study this, we compared 5 years of eddy covariance measurements of H2 O and CO2 fluxes over a riparian grassland, shrubland, and woodland. In comparison with the surrounding upland region, groundwater access at the riparian sites increased net carbon uptake (NEP) and evapotranspiration (ET), which were sustained over more of the year. Among the sites, the grassland used less of the stable groundwater resource, and increasing woody plant density decoupled NEP and ET from incident precipitation (P), resulting in greater exchange rates that were less variable year to year. Despite similar gross patterns, how groundwater accessibility affected NEP was more complex than ET. The grassland had higher respiration (Reco ) costs. Thus, while it had similar ET and gross carbon uptake (GEP) to the shrubland, grassland NEP was substantially less. Also, grassland carbon fluxes were more variable due to occasional flooding at the site, which both stimulated and inhibited NEP depending upon phenology. Woodland NEP was large, but surprisingly similar to the less mature, sparse shrubland, even while having much greater GEP. Woodland Reco was greater than the shrubland and responded strongly and positively to P, which resulted in a surprising negative NEP response to P. This is likely due to the large accumulation of carbon aboveground and in the surface soil. These long-term observations support the strong role that water accessibility can play when determining the consequences of ecosystem vegetation change.
Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome in 3 Rottweilers

Three Rottweilers with marked peripheral eosinophilia and infiltration of the liver, spleen, lungs, and bone marrow with eosinophils were diagnosed with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES). Mean serum immunoglobulin E concentrations were markedly high. On cytogenetic analysis, no evidence of karyotypic abnormalities was found in bone marrow aspirates. Despite an extensive search, no underlying cause for the eosinophilia could be identified. In this study, cytogenetic analysis and measurement of serum IgE concentrations were used to differentiate IHES and eosinophilic leukemia.
Cocaine depresses cerebral glucose utilization in fetal sheep

To assess if cocaine alters cerebral glucose metabolism in the fetus, we infused cocaine 0.6 mg/min intravenously to 6 of 13 fetal sheep for the 55 min prior to measurement of glucose utilization by an autoradiographic method. Overall, local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) was lower in cocaine-exposed fetuses than in 7 controls (P = 0.058). In the cocaine-exposed fetuses, 33 of 34 structures had lower mean LCGU than in the comparable structures of control fetuses. In addition, the autoradiographs in 4 of 6 cocaine-exposed fetuses revealed thin, dark lines of increased glucose utilization within the central white matter of some frontal gyri which were not seen in any of the 7 control fetuses. These lines were distributed similarly to ones seen earlier in severely hypoxic newborn lambs. In fetal lambs, cocaine resulted in a generalized decrease in LCGU and a specific increase in glucose utilization in parts of cortical white matter of the frontal gyri, possibly secondary to local ischemia.
The Treponema denticola AtcR LytTR domain-containing response regulator interacts with three architecturally distinct promoter elements: implications for understanding the molecular signaling mechanisms that drive the progression of periodontal disease

Treponema denticola is an oral spirochete and periopathogen that transitions from low abundance in healthy subgingival crevices to high abundance in periodontal pockets. The T. denticola response regulator AtcR harbors the relatively rare, LytTR DNA-binding domain. LytTR domain containing response regulators control critical transcriptional responses required for environmental adaptation. Using a multi-step bioinformatics approach, 26 strong lytTR recognition motifs were identified in the genome of T. denticola strain 35405. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that AtcR binds to these recognition motifs. High specificity-high affinity complexes formed with phosphorylated AtcR. The LytTR recognition sequences were found to exist in three distinct promoter architectures designated as LytTR1, LytTR2 and LytTR3 promoters. LytTR1 and LytTR2 promoters harbor σ(54) binding sites. The functional diversity of the proteins encoded by the putative AtcR regulon suggests that AtcR sits at the top of a regulatory cascade that plays a central role in facilitating T. denticola's ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions and thrive in periodontal pockets.
Stimulation of DNA synthesis and mitotic activity of thymic lymphocytes by cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate.

Abstract Physiological levels (10 −8 to 10 −6 M) of the cyclic nucleotide, adenosine 3′5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), were shown to promote deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and mitotic activity in suspension cultures of rat thymic lymphocytes. Higher concentrations of cyclic AMP inhibited cell growth. It is concluded that cyclic AMP plays a central role in the control of cell division in thymocyte populations and could be the intracellular mediator of the mitogenic actions of a wide variety of hormones on this type of cell.
Nanobioelectrocatalysis and Its Applications in Biosensors, Biofuel Cells and Bioprocessing

This review details the use of nanomaterials to improve bioelectrocatalysis for biosensor and biological fuel cell applications. Different types of bioelectrocatalysts are described as well as different types of nanomaterials for improving the rate of bioelectrocatalysis, as well as the active surface area of the electrodes.
(dme)MCl3(NNPh2) (dme = dimethoxyethane; M = Nb, Ta): a versatile synthon for [Ta=NNPh2] hydrazido(2-) complexes.

Complexes (dme)TaCl3(NNPh2) (1) and (dme)NbCl3(NNPh2) (2) (dme =1,2-dimethoxyethane) were synthesized from MCl5 and diphenylhydrazine via a Lewis-acid assisted dehydrohalogenation reaction. Monomeric 1 has been characterized by X-ray, IR, UV−vis, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy and contains a κ1-bound hydrazido(2-) moiety. Unlike the corresponding imido derivatives, 1 is dark blue because of an LMCT that has been lowered in energy as a result of an Nα−Nβ antibonding interaction that raises the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). Reaction of 1 with a variety of neutral, mono- and dianionic ligands generates the corresponding ligated complexes retaining the κ1-bound [Ta−NNPh2] moiety.
Temporal and spatial variability of satellite sea surface temperature and ocean colour in the Japan/East Sea

Temporal and spatial variability of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and ocean colour in the Japan/East Sea (JES) are examined during winter and spring using satellite data from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS). The timing of the spring phytoplankton bloom and the locations of the chlorophyll fronts are related to changes in the thermal fields and the locations of the temperature fronts. Daily images of SST and chlorophyll concentration show both differences and similarities of bio-optical and thermal front location, depending on region and season. Four sub-regions in the JES were defined and SST and chlorophyll values were extracted from weekly and monthly composite images to derive summary statistics. SST at the Subpolar Front increased about 7°C over a 1.5-month period from late April to early June in 1999. During this same period, elevated chlorophyll values near the Korean coast and in the southern basin decreased sharply as the phytopl...
CRT-138 Initial US Experience with Commercial Transfemoral Sapien Transcatheter Heart valve compared to PARTNER Cohort B

Edwards Sapien transcatheter valve is FDA approved for commercial use in non-operable patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) via the transfemoral approach. To assess the clinical profile and in-hospital complications in patients treated with commercial valve compared to PARTNER
Mechanism of Respiration

UNDER the above heading, Prof. A. Szent-Gyorgyi makes the wide statement1 that respiration consists mainly of a reversible oxidation of succinic and malic acids to fumaric and hydroxy-fumaric (oxaloacetic) acids. Succinic and malic acids are activated by specific dehydrases and “only these two dehydrases seem to be connected immediately with the Warburg-Keilin system”.
Proton spectroscopy of 86, 88Sr VIA (3He,d)

Abstract The 85, 87Rb(3He, d) 86, 88Sr reactions have been studied at 33.3 MeV incident energy. Angular distributions for eighteen 86Sr levels and ten 88Sr levels over an angular range 2.5° ≦ θlab ≦ 45° were taken in the University of Colorado energy-loss spectrometer. Two recent prescriptions for (3He, d) DWBA calculations were compared with the data. Whichever prescription is used, qualitative results are unchanged: the 87Rb ground state has less than 0.5 f-holes and about 2 p-holes for protons, while 85Rb has about 1 p-hole and 2 f-holes, and hence is not well described as a single-proton hole. This indicates that the two g 9 2 neutron holes in 85Rb prevent good closure of the 1f proton shell, in spite of the fact that in this nucleus neutron excitations do not mix appreciably with proton excitations.
Kaon and pion charge radii and the magnetic moments of ϱ and K ∗ from sidewise dispersion relations

Abstract We have calculated the charge radii of the kaon and pion by means of sidewise dispersion relations. In our calculation the two radii are approximately the same in agreement with SU(3). The calculation also leads to a sum rule from which we get a prediction of the magnetic moments of the ϱ and K ∗ mesons.
Radar chirp waveform selection and circuit optimization using ACPR load-pull measurements

Due to tightening spectral criteria, joint optimization of radar transmitter waveform and circuit is considered to minimize the nonlinearity and waveform induced spectral spreading of radar transmitters. This work demonstrates the ACPR load-pull measurement of a power amplifier under excitation from two chirp waveforms. The results are compared to allow selection of the optimum chirp and transmitter load impedance. This work represents a beginning effort toward the real-time, computationally intelligent transmitter optimization in future reconfigurable radar systems.
Design criteria of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry based expert system for arson analysis

Abstract An analysis system is presented that is specifically geared toward the detection of petroleum based volatiles in suspect arson samples. Advantage is taken of the high selectivity of mass spectrometry toward aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Data acquired by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry are subjected to automated post run data treatment. The system attempts to categorize chromatographic profiles by establishing the presence of key components. Comparison is made to data from standards stored in the memory of the computer. Retention time information as well as mass spectral criteria are used. Based on the detection of diagnostic components and determination of their relative intensities, samples are categorized as falling into one of five categories of petroleum based accelerates. Extensive use is made of Macro programming. The rationale of the search is discussed and details of the program structure are provided. A typical example is presented
SEASAT altimeter timing bias estimation

A technique developed for the solution of time lag bias based on the analysis of sea surface height discrepancies at ground track intersections, prompted by the presence of a time calibration bias in Seasat altimeter data that produced measurement errors in excess of 1 m, is shown to yield a separation of the dominant, once-per-revolution ephemeris error amounting to about 1.5 m rms from the timing error signature. The technique does not depend on precise geoid data, and in application to a global Seasat altimeter data set covering July 28-August 9, 1978, has yielded a time lag value of -81.0 + or - 2 msec. This corroborates the -79.4 msec revised value derived from a reexamination of internal instrument time delays.
Accuracy of Angler-Reported Harvest in Roving Creel Surveys

Abstract Harvest data obtained during roving creel surveys are often based on angler-reported information without validation. Angler creels were inspected following interviews during roving creel surveys on three Florida lakes. Comparisons between reported and counted harvest revealed significant differences for anglers targeting sunfish Lepomis spp. (22% error) and black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus (7% error). Differences were negligible for anglers targeting sunshine bass (female white bass Morone chrysops × male striped bass M. saxatilis), palmetto bass (male white bass × female striped bass), and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. Accuracy among species was inversely related to bag limit size; this was attributed to a combination of factors, including species, number and size of fish harvested, limit-conscious behavior of anglers, and differences among angler groups. Accuracy within species was not significantly influenced by the reported number of fish harvested or trip duration, nor was the i...
A fast projection method for canonical minimal realization

We present a fast and potentially numerically advantageous algorithm for finding canonical minimal state-space realizations from given multivariable transfer functions.
Estimating the number of independent components for functional magnetic resonance imaging data.

Multivariate analysis methods such as independent component analysis (ICA) have been applied to the analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to study brain function. Because of the high dimensionality and high noise level of the fMRI data, order selection, i.e., estimation of the number of informative components, is critical to reduce over/underfitting in such methods. De- pendence among fMRI data samples in the spatial and temporal domain limits the usefulness of the practical formulations of information-theoretic criteria (ITC) for order selection, since they are based on likelihood of independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) data samples. To address this issue, we pro- pose a subsampling scheme to obtain a set of effectively i.i.d. samples from the dependent data samples and apply the ITC formulas to the effectively i.i.d. sample set for order selection. We apply the proposed method on the simulated data and show that it significantly improves the accuracy of order selection from dependent data. We also perform order selection on fMRI data from a visuomotor task and show that the proposed method alleviates the over-estimation on the number of brain sources due to the intrin- sic smoothness and the smooth preprocessing of fMRI data. We use the software package ICASSO (Him- berg et al. (2004): Neuroimage 22:1214-1222) to analyze the independent component (IC) estimates at dif- ferent orders and show that, when ICA is performed at overestimated orders, the stability of the IC esti- mates decreases and the estimation of task related brain activations show degradation. Hum Brain Mapp
Measurement of 3-D Orientation and 3-D Orientation Tensors in Polymer/Nanofiber Composites

We present a novel method to compute the three dimensional orientation tensors of carbon nanofibers in CNF/polymer composites. Performance properties of nanofiber composites are significantly affected by fiber orientation patterns. So an accurate description of the fiber orientation is necessary to validate models relating processing technique and properties of the final composites. Orientation tensors and probability distribution functions (PDF) are commonly used to describe orientation patterns. But physical dimensions of nanofibers and the imaging technique (Transmission Electron Microscopy, TEM) make all currently available methods of image analysis useless to accurately computing these descriptions in 3-dimensions. In this study TEM sections are cut with specific thickness and angle that result in majority of the fibers being cut at both ends. Fiber projection dimensions measured from this special section provide the complete three dimensional orientation of each fiber. This method is benchmarked by using simulated 3D samples in AutoCAD.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The pseudo‐panopticon: the illusion created by CSR‐related transparency and the internet

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) transparency claims are propagating a belief in a modern panopticon for ensuring responsible corporate behavior. Corporations use transparency claims to cultivate the impression of full disclosure. The paper aims to explore why people believe transparency ensures responsible behavior from corporations as well as the negative effects of this pseudo‐panopticon.Design/methodology/approach – The paper explores transparency in relation to CSR, CSR reporting, the internet, and activism and describes how their confluence produces pseudo‐panopticon.Findings – The paper finds that the pseudo‐panopticon allows corporations to claim transparency in CSR communication and for stakeholders to accept that claim. The reality is that a minority of activist stakeholders bear the burden of ensuring true transparency by questioning disclosure.Social implications – Transparency should be seen as a process, and it fails if activists can...
Using Intended Learning Objectives to Assess Curriculum Materials: the UCGIS Body of Knowledge

The first edition of the UCGIS Body of Knowledge (BOK) is a recommended baseline for the geographic information science and technology (GIS&T) undergraduate curriculum. Part of a larger seven-year effort to rebuild the top of the world's GIS&T intellectual pyramid, it attempts to define the knowledge base that one might expect students receiving an undergraduate specialty in the field should be exposed to. Although it is not a set of lecture notes, exercises or laboratories for educators, it does provide over 1600 learning objectives spread over 10 general knowledge areas. Because the document is designed to serve the needs of the educational community it is important to know whether these learning objectives are set at appropriate cognitive learning levels. This paper examines the range of cognitive levels suggested by the learning objectives enumerated for each of the 10 Knowledge Areas. By using text-based content analysis of the BOK learning objectives, the author compares the action verbs associated ...
Immediate effects of changing herd size upon milk production and other dairy herd improvement measures of management

Abstract Consecutive yearly herd averages were compared to determine the effects of changing herd size on production and management variables for 13,614 Dairy Herd Improvement Holstein herd average records completed between 1965 and 1970. Herd average milk production increased by 56kg per year. Changes in herd size had a marked effect on average milk production the following year. This effect was dependent on herd size prior to change with larger herds showing serious losses in production as herd size increased. Conversely, smaller herds were less affected as herd size fluctuated. Income over feed cost and other management variables showed trends similar to those for milk production.
PS1-18: Development and Characterization of a Cohort for Determining Long Term Secondary Side Effects Due to Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer Using an Electronic Health Record

Background/Aims The long term secondary side effects from radiation treatment for prostate cancer are well described. Here we characterize a cohort with radiation treatment for prostate cancer and an electronic medical record. A subset of individuals, were selected for EPIC quality of life surveys.
Energy intensity, electricity consumption, and advanced manufacturing-technology usage

Abstract This article reports on the relationship between the usage of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs) and energy consumption patterns in manufacturing plants. Using data from the Survey of Manufacturing Technology and the 1987 Census of Manufactures, we model the energy intensity and the electricity intensity of plants as functions of AMT usage and plant age. The main findings are that plants that utilize AMTs are less-energy intensive than plants not using AMTs, but consume proportionately more electricity as a fuel source. Additionally, older plants are generally more energy intensive and rely on fossil fuels to a greater extent than younger plants.
Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors as Identified by Focus Groups

Currently, over 1,700,000 women are living with breast cancer in the United States. These long-term survivors of breast cancer are challenged to redirect their energy from issues of cancer treatment and early side effects toward quality of life issues related to long-term survivorship, such as menopause, infertility, fear of recurrence, family distress, and uncertainty. In an attempt to obtain patient perspectives on quality of life and health care issues faced by breast cancer survivors, focus group methodology was utilized in the first year of a 2 year study. The sample was stratified to represent three age groups: 60, and was intended to represent different developmental levels believed to have varying experiences with quality of life and potentially divergent needs following breast cancer diagnosis. Results of these focus groups revealed unique quality of life concerns of breast cancer survivors across four domains of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well being. Each of these domains yields important implications for future research and clinical practice.
Modelling the spread and connectivity of waterborne marine pathogens: the case of PaV1 in the Caribbean

The PaV1 virus infects spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) throughout most of the Caribbean, where its prevalence in adult lobsters can reach 17% and where it poses a significant risk of mortality for juveniles. Recent studies indicate that vertical transmission of the virus is unlikely and PaV1 has not been identified in the phyllosoma larval stages. Yet, the pathogen appears subclinically in post-larvae collected near the coast, suggesting that lobster post-larvae may harbour the virus and perhaps have aided in the dispersal of the pathogen. Laboratory and field experiments also confirm the waterborne transmission of the virus to post-larval and early benthic juvenile stages, but its viability in the water column may be limited to a few days. Here, we coupled Lagrangian modelling with a flexible matrix model of waterborne and post-larval-based pathogen dispersal in the Caribbean to investigate how a large area with complex hydrology influences the theoretical spread of disease. Our results indicate that if the virus is waterborne and only viable for a few days, then it is unlikely to impact both the Eastern and Northwestern Caribbean, which are separated by dispersal barriers. However, if PaV1 can be transported between locations by infected post-larvae, then the entire Caribbean becomes linked by pathogen dispersal with higher viral prevalence in the North. We identify possible regions from which pathogens are most likely to spread, and highlight Caribbean locations that function as dispersal “gateways” that could facilitate the rapid spread of pathogens into otherwise isolated areas.
Civil standardization of the Global Positioning System for the aviation community

The author describes the international standardization process required for the eventual use of the GPS (Global Positioning System) in an aviation mission role. He provides a brief overview of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), addresses issues regarding the standardization process as it applies to GPS (or its successor), considers the ICAO standardization process, and gives an example of the standardization process based on the Microwave Landing System (MLS) development. >
Executive Functioning Demands of the Object Retrieval Task for 8-month-old Infants

At 8 to 11 months of age, infants are more successful in negotiating opaque relative to transparent barriers. However, 7-month-old infants have more difficulty with opaque barriers relative to semitransparent barriers. Here, 8-month-old infants spent more time in ineffective direct reaches with more the transparent barriers (Experiments 1 & 2) and were faster with the fully opaque barrier (Experiment 2). This demonstration of the graded effects of transparency confirms the working memory and/or response inhibition demands of the object retrieval task.
Determining tomato fruit maturity with nondestructive in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

Saltveit, M.E., Jr., 1991. Determining tomato fruit maturity with nondestructive in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Postharcest Biol. Technol., l: 153-159. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) images were taken of freshly harvested tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Castlemart). Measurements were also made of the stage of ripeness, rate of carbon dioxide and ethylene production, lycopene and chlorophyll content, density of the pericarp wall, and consistency of the locular tissue. An NMR image at 256x256 pixel per image and 16 levels of intensity per pixel clearly showed many structural details of the fruit. Increased intensity was associated with liquefaction of the placental tissue during ripening, while graininess of the pericarp wall was associated with a decrease in wall density. In vivo NMR imaging of mature-green fruit produced images in which differences in maturity could be seen. The long time required to produce an image and the cost of operation currently precludes the use of NMR imaging to sort mature-green tomato fruit.
High efficient electrical stimulation of hippocampal slices with vertically aligned carbon nanofiber microbrush array

Long-term neuroprostheses for functional electrical stimulation must efficiently stimulate tissue without electrolyzing water and raising the extracellular pH to toxic levels. Comparison of the stimulation efficiency of tungsten wire electrodes (W wires), platinum microelectrode arrays (PtMEA), as-grown vertically aligned carbon nanofiber microbrush arrays (VACNF MBAs), and polypyrrole coated (PPy-coated) VACNF MBAs in eliciting field potentials in the hippocampus slice indicates that, at low stimulating voltages that preclude the electrolysis of water, only the PPy-coated VACNF MBA is able to stimulate the CA3 to CA1 pathway. Unlike the W wires, PtMEA, as-grown VACNF MBA, and the PPy-coated VACNF MBA elicit only excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). Furthermore, the PPy-coated VACNF MBA evokes somatic action potentials in addition to EPSPs. These results highlight the PPy-coated VACNF’s advantages in lower electrode impedance, ability to stimulate tissue through a biocompatible chloride flux, and stable vertical alignment in liquid that enables access to spatially confined regions of neuronal cells.
Routine preoperative venous and arterial mapping increases both, construction and maturation rate of upper arm autogenous arteriovenous fistulae.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that routine preoperative mapping and transposed brachial-basilic vein fistula (TBBVF) increases arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs) construction rates, without altering maturation rate. Patients: Over a 4-year period, 709 vascular accesses were performed, including 467 AVFs (radial-cephalic fistula [RCF], n = 217, brachial-cephalic fistula [BCF], n = 139, TBBVF, n = 111) and 251 prosthetic grafts. During the last 2 years, preoperative mapping was performed routinely by means of ultrasound, and TBBVFs were preferentially used over arteriovenous grafts (AVGs). Results: Over the study, construction rate of upper arm AVF increased significantly from 12% to 53% and use of prosthetic grafts decreased from 55% to 19% (P < .001). Maturation rate of RCFs, BCFs, and TBBVFs during the first part of the study was 75%, 50%, and 30% (P = .003), compared to 79%, 82%, and 86% (P = .43), respectively, during the second part. Conclusions: Routine preoperative upper extremity mapping with ultras...
Modeling and Optimization of a Microscale Capacitive Humidity Sensor for HVAC Applications

This paper presents a comprehensive numerical study of the performance of a capacitive humidity sensor for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. The proposed sensor comprises a sensing layer sandwiched between an array of top and bottom electrodes. A combination of both parallel plate and interdigitated electrode arrangements is considered to achieve their distinctive advantages. Polyimide is used as the humidity sensing material due to good sensing characteristics and aluminum is used as the electrode material because of the ease of fabrication. A layer of polyimide covers the top electrodes to provide protection from atmospheric contamination thus improving durability. The influence of relative humidity on the dielectric constant of the sensing layer is determined theoretically using the models of Looyenga and Shibata The model is validated by comparing model predictions with experimentally measured data for a previously reported capacitive humidity sensor. The model is then used to simulate and predict the performance of the proposed humidity sensor. The effects of design configuration, sensing layer thickness, electrode polarity, electrode width and thickness, and electrode gap are studied. The influence of operating conditions including relative humidity, temperature and voltage is investigated. Based on the simulation results, the optimum design configuration is identified.
Yield analysis of a stripline Wilkinson power divider using Monte Carlo samples of interpolated full wave simulation data using Sonnet

The use of Monte Carlo samples of interpolated data from a linearly spaced grid of electromagnetic simulation data for yield analysis is investigated. The motivation for this approach stems from a desire to have accurate yield metrics without the need to fabricate a large number of circuits or run a large number of full wave simulations. A means to estimate circuit yield values with relatively little computational effort is presented. A Wilkinson power divider designed with Sonnet's electromagnetic simulation engine, em, is provided as a simple example.
Genetic Basis of Endometriosis

: Endometriosis is a complex gynecologic disorder that has long been recognized as showing heritable tendencies, with recurrence risks of 5-7% for first-degree relatives. Familial and epidemiologic studies support that this disease is a genetic disorder of polygenic/multifactorial inheritance. The current investigational challenge is to determine the number and location of causative genes. Recent advances in molecular technology make identification and elucidation of these genes now possible. In this review, we update previous communications in which we also reviewed heritability studies supporting polygenic/multifactorial inheritance, discuss the scientific basis of genomewide strategies for identifying causative genes, and identify potential candidate genes.
The Spatial Division of Labor in Nepal

Fafchamps and Shilpi examine how economic activity and market participation are distributed across space. Applying a nonparametric von Thunen model to Nepalese data, the authors uncover a strong spatial division of labor. Nonfarm employment is concentrated in and around cities, while agricultural wage employment dominates villages located further away. Vegetables are produced near urban centers. Paddy and commercial crops are more important at intermediate distances. Isolated villages revert to self-subsistence. The findings of the study are consistent with the von Thunen model of concentric specialization, corrected to account for city size. Spatial division of labor is closely related to factor endowments and household characteristics, especially at the local level. This paper - a product of Rural Development, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to understand the importance of spatical factors in rural development.
A Meeting at Autopsy.

I wondered how long it would take me to get used to this. Seeing people in their birthday suit, or should I say death suit. Dark, I know.
A new algorithm for temperature and spectral emissivity retrieval over active fires in the TIR spectral range

The problem of temperature and spectral emissivity assessment from hyperspectral remotely sensed data is discussed with reference to monitoring of active fires and hot targets. A new algorithm, called similar pixel addition, was developed, which allows us to retrieve the temperature of burning areas by employing spectral data collected at thermal infrared (TIR) wavelengths. The new algorithm resolves the uncertainty connected with temperature-emissivity separation assuming a slow spatial variation of emissivity, hence reducing the number of unknowns involved in the inversion of a couple of similar pixels at once. Performance of this procedure is thoroughly discussed and compared with results from two other algorithms operating in the TIR and shortwave infrared spectral ranges. This paper shows results obtained applying the new algorithm to hyperspectral images gathered by the Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer in Northern Italy (Alps) over a natural fire that broke out in July 1999. This paper is completed with a theoretical discussion of the involved topics.
Fragment-similarity-based QSAR (FS-QSAR) algorithm for ligand biological activity predictions

Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) studies are useful computational tools often used in drug discovery research and in many scientific disciplines. In this study, a robust fragment-similarity-based QSAR (FS-QSAR) algorithm was developed to correlate structures with biological activities by integrating fragment-based drug design concept and a multiple linear regression method. Similarity between any pair of training and testing fragments was determined by calculating the difference of lowest or highest eigenvalues of the chemistry space BCUT matrices of corresponding fragments. In addition to the BCUT-similarity function, molecular fingerprint Tanimoto coefficient (Tc) similarity function was also used as an alternative for comparison. For validation studies, the FS-QSAR algorithm was applied to several case studies, including a dataset of COX2 inhibitors and a dataset of cannabinoid CB2 triaryl bis-sulfone antagonist analogues, to build predictive models achieving average coefficient of d...
Structural Equation Modeling Reporting Practices for Language Assessment.

Studies that use structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques are increasingly encountered in the language assessment literature. This popularity has created the need for a set of guidelines that can indicate what should be included in a research report and make it possible for research consumers to judge the appropriateness of the interpretations made from a reported study. This article attempts to fill this void by providing a set of reporting guidelines appropriate for language assessment researchers.