cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wearable Technology Effects on Training Outcomes of Restaurant Food Handlers

Food safety training does not always result in behavior change, perhaps because of flaws inherent in traditional training designs. New technologies such as augmented reality headsets or head-mounted action cameras could transform the way food safety training is conducted in the food industry. Training conducted with wearable technology presents visual content in the first-person or actor's perspective, as opposed to the traditional third-person or observer perspective. This visual hands-on first-person perspective may provide an effective way of conveying information and encouraging behavior execution because it uses the mirror neuron system. There is little published literature about the impact of perspective on food safety training outcomes, such as motivation. The present study included a repeated-measures design to determine how first- and third-person camera angles affected hand washing training reactions among 108 currently employed restaurant food handlers. Participants were assessed on their posttraining compliance intentions, compliance self-efficacy, perceived utility of the training, overall satisfaction with the training, and video perspective preference. A significant proportion of food handlers (64%) preferred the first-person video perspective ( z = 5.00, P < 0.001), and a significant correlation was found between compliance intentions and compliance self-efficacy ( r(108) = 0.361, P < 0.001) for the first-person video. No significant differences in video preference were found for demographic variables, including age (χ2 (2, n = 104) = 1.69, P = 0.430), which suggests that the first-person training format appeals to a diverse workforce. These findings support the application of wearable technology to enhance hand washing training outcomes across a wide range of demographic groups. This research lays the framework for future studies to assess the impact of instructional design on compliance concerning hand washing and other food handling behaviors.
On Possible Pitfalls in ab Initio Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics Minimization Approaches for Studies of Enzymatic Reactions

Reliable studies of enzymatic reactions by combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) approaches, with an ab initio description of the quantum region, presents a major challenge to computational chemists. The main problem is the need for a very large computer time for the evaluation of the QM energy, which in turn makes it extremely challenging to perform proper configurational sampling. A seemingly reasonable alternative is to perform energy minimization studies of the type used in gas-phase ab initio studies. However, it is hard to see why such an approach should give reliable results in protein active sites. To examine the problems with energy minimization QM/MM approaches, we chose the hypothetical reaction of a metaphosphate ion with water in the Ras.GAP complex. This hypothetical reaction served as a simple benchmark reaction. The possible problems with the QM/MM minimization were explored by generating several protein configurations from long MD simulations and using energy minimization and scanning of the reaction coordinates to evaluate the corresponding potential energy surfaces of the reaction for each of these different protein configurations. Comparing these potential energy surfaces, we found major variations of the corresponding minima. Furthermore, the reaction energies and activation energies also varied significantly even for similar protein configurations. The specific coordination of a magnesium ion, present in the active center of the protein complex, turned out to influence the energetics of the reaction in a major way, where a direct coordination to the reactant leads to an increase of the activation energy by 17 kcal/mol. Apparently, using energy minimization to generate potential surfaces for an enzymatic reaction, while starting from a single protein structure, could lead to major errors in calculations of activation free energies and binding free energies. Thus we believe that extensive samplings of the configurational space of the protein are essential for meaningful determination of the energetics of enzymatic reactions. The possible relevance of our conclusion with regard to a recent study of the RasGAP reaction is discussed.
Bioavailability of Organic Xenobiotics in the Environment

The bioavailability of organic xenobiotics in the environment is currently the object of considerable attention from scientists, environmental activists, and policy makers. Yet, in the literature that this interest has stimulated in recent years, the concept of bioavailability itself is seldom defined precisely, with the result that different definitions are used by different people. In the present chapter, we attempt to provide a set of definitions of biovailability, and to relate these definitions to the concepts of exposure and dose traditionally used in (eco)toxicology. Assumptions used to assess the bioavailability of xenobiotics in soils and sediments are critically reviewed, as well as the experimental evidence concerning changes in bioavailability over time (aging). Based on a number of recent publications, it is argued that the key determinant of the bioavailability of organic xenobiotics in subsurface environments is not the (supposedly fixed) rate of their release by the soil matrix but instead the ability of microbial cells and higher organisms to act as sinks for these compounds. This viewpoint is supported by experiments carried out with near-perfect sinks (resin beads), which have shown limited aging of organic xenobiotics and heavy metals in soils. The “sink theory” of the bioavailability of organic xenobiotics, introduced in this chapter, has a number of very practical consequences, in particular in terms of environmental policy decisions.
Abuse of the analyte addition technique in atomic absorption spectrometry

The analyte addition technique is frequently used in atomic absorption spectrometry, and is often applied routinely to avoid errors in graphite furnace and other techniques for trace element determination. In fact, however, the analyte addition technique can be applied reasonably only if certain prerequirements are fulfilled. The two most important basic rules are that the analyte addition technique can only correct for multiplicative but not for additive systematic errors, and that the added analyte element and the element present in the sample must behave in an analytically identical manner. Careful isoformation is typically required in the graphite furnace technique to fulfil this second requirement. Doing so, however, completely eliminates numerous interferences if at the same time proper atomization conditions and evaluation of integrated absorbance signals are used. This means that the analyte addition technique has become redundant in this case, and that the analytical curve technique can be used for evaluation.
Abstract 1291: Master regulator analysis of paragangliomas carrying SDH, VHL, or MAML3 genetic alterations

Background: Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) loss and mastermind-like 3 (MAML3) translocation are two clinically important genetic alterations that occur in subtypes of human paraganglioma and pheochromocytoma (PPGL) neuroendocrine tumors that correlate with increased rates of metastasis. Although hypotheses exist for how global activation of pseudohypoxia and epigenomic hypermethylation are driven via dioxygenase poisoning in the context of SDH loss, it remains unclear how these defects drive tumorigenesis. Additionally, MAML3 translocation has recently been identified as a genetic alteration in PGL and is poorly understood. We hypothesize that a key to understanding the tumorigenic basis for these genetic alterations is the deconvolution of the gene expression profiles in these tumors and identification of the transcription factors responsible for the observed transcriptional changes. Methods: In the present work, we leverage publicly-available human tumor gene expression profiling experiments (N=179) to reconstruct a PPGL tumor-specific transcriptional network. Inferred network structure was subsequently validated by examining the frequency of known transcription factor DNA-binding motifs in the inferred regulons. We subsequently use the inferred transcriptional networks and known gene expression signatures for specific PPGL subtypes to perform a master regulator analysis nominating specific transcription factors that may control observed oncogenic patterns of gene expression. The findings of the master regulator analysis were confirmed by duplication of the analysis on a second PPGL-specific inferred transcriptional network (N=188 specimens). Results: A small number of master regulator transcription factors are likely drivers of the observed subtype-specific gene expression patterns in SDH loss- and MAML3 translocation-positive PPGL. Unexpectedly, hypoxia-inducible transcription factors were not identified as master regulators in SDH-loss tumors. Additionally, analysis of the MAML3 translocation subtype master regulators revealed that a single transcription factor, IRX4, may control 37% of the deferentially expressed genes in this highly malignant tumor subtype. Conclusions: These observations from unbiased analyses suggest a basis for future development of targeted therapies for specific PPGL molecular subtypes. Citation Format: John A. Smestad, Louis J. Maher. Master regulator analysis of paragangliomas carrying SDH, VHL, or MAML3 genetic alterations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1291.
Right atrial to left atrial volume index ratio is associated with increased mortality in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right heart failure. Elevated right atrial (RA) pressure reflects right ventricular (RV) pressure overload and is an established risk factor for mortality in PH. We hypothesized that PH patients with an increased ratio of RA to LA volume index (RAVI/LAVI), would have increased mortality. METHODS We evaluated the association of RAVI/LAVI with mortality in 124 patients seen at a single academic center's PH clinic after adjusting for the REVEAL risk score, an established risk score in PH. LA and RA volume indices were measured in the four-and two-chamber views by two independent researchers. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the independent association of RAVI/LAVI with survival. RESULTS Among 124 patients (mean age 62 ± 12.7 years, 68.6% female), each unit increase in RAVI/LAVI was associated with a nearly twofold increase in mortality (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.20-3.04). In a multivariable logistic regression, each unit increase in RAVI/LAVI was associated with a nearly twofold increase in mortality (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.003-2.998). Furthermore, RAVI/LAVI in the highest quartile (>1.42) was significantly associated with elevated right atrial pressure (RAP) to pulmonary artery wedge pressure ratio (RAP/PAWP) (0.76 ± 0.41, P = 0.02) compared with the lowest quartile (<0.77), suggesting an interaction between invasive hemodynamic data, atrial structural changes, and mortality in PH. CONCLUSIONS Increased RAVI/LAVI in PH is associated with decreased survival and accounts for atrial structural remodeling related to invasive hemodynamics. These findings support further study of this index in predicting outcomes in PH.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-Deactivating Contact Lens for Corneal Melting.

Corneal melting is an uncontrolled, excessive degradation of cellular and extracellular components of the cornea. This potential cause of corneal blindness is caused by excessive expression of zinc-dependent matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and has no satisfying cure as of now. Herein, we introduce a novel therapeutic hydrogel that can be made into a contact lens to slow down the progression of corneal melting by deactivating MMPs. The hydrogel backbone is comprised of poly(2-hydroxyetyl methacrylate) (pHEMA), a main material for commercial contact lenses, and dipicolylamine (DPA), which has high affinity for and selectivity toward zinc ion. As a result, the DPA-conjugated pHEMA (pDPA-HEMA) hydrogel selectively removes zinc ions from a physiological buffer and deactivates MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 within 2 h. pDPA-HEMA hydrogel also effectively prevents degradation of porcine corneas by collagenase A, a zinc-dependent protease, whereas the cornea completely degrades within 15 h when incubated with pHEMA hyd...
Place and behavior: The role of accessibility

Abstract We address the implications of a latent yet critical assumption in place research: that sense of place is chronically accessible in memory. It is presently assumed that sense of place is a consistently retrieved representation stored memory that is always at the “top of the mind”, with an automatic, inevitable, and robust effect on behavioral outcomes. This assumption is at odds with research in social psychology which asserts that most mental constructs are only temporarily accessible. That is, constructs are often formed on the spot, and compete with other constructs for applicability to a judgment or behavior. We argue that this assumption partially explains the inconsistencies identified in recent reviews of research on the behavioral outcomes associated with person-place bonds. We conclude with an outline of a research program that builds on an assumption of temporary accessibility to explain the relationship between place and behavior. By focusing on the temporary accessibility of place, we can better understand the dynamic interaction between social and psychological factors in shaping person-place bonds.
Establishing and characterization of human and murine bladder cancer organoids

Bladder cancer is among the most common malignancies in the United States (4th for men and 11th for women) and worldwide (6th for men and 16th for women) (1,2). Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease with a large number of mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressors (3). Bladder cancer is divided into two major categories with distinct treatment strategies, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).
Conclusions and Questions

Not least, the conclusion again raises explicit comparison between the hobby culture of radio and the modern fascination with computers, the internet, and the maker movement. Hobbies and hobbyists matter, but so does the social and political context within which they exist. Clearly, we overlook or underestimate the importance of hobbyists and tinkerers to our peril. There is much more to understand about how hobbies provide a focus for personal identity, to the point where some hobbyists are willing to risk life itself.
Cellular mRNA export factor UAP56 recognizes nucleic acid binding site of influenza virus NP protein.

Abstract Influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP) is a structural component that encapsulates the viral genome into the form of ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs). Efficient assembly of vRNPs is critical for the virus life cycle. The assembly route from RNA-free NP to the NP-RNA polymer in vRNPs has been suggested to require a cellular factor UAP56, but the mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we characterized the interaction between NP and UAP56 using recombinant proteins and showed that UAP56 features two NP binding sites. In addition to the UAP56 core comprised of two RecA domains, we identified the N-terminal extension (NTE) of UAP56 as a previously unknown NP binding site. In particular, UAP56-NTE recognizes the nucleic acid binding region of NP. This corroborates our observation that binding of UAP56-NTE and RNA to NP is mutually exclusive. Collectively, our results reveal the molecular basis for how UAP56 acts on RNA-free NP, and provide new insights into NP-mediated influenza genome packaging.
Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis presenting in an African-American teenage male: case report.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is a rare complication of hyperthyroidism and is associated with hypokalemia and muscle paralysis. This condition is most commonly seen in Asian men. We report on a 14-year-old African American male with Graves’ disease and intermittent asthma who presented with bilateral leg weakness. The patient demonstrated signs of thyrotoxicosis and laboratory evaluation revealed hypokalemia and hyperthyroidism. Following the administration of potassium supplementation clinical status improved and the patient was discharged home on a high dose of methimazole and propranolol. At a 6-month follow up visit, he was found to be clinically euthyroid and demonstrated no signs of hyperthyroidism or muscle weakness. Children presenting with weakness and hypokalemia should be investigated for thyroid dysfunction. Correction of hypokalemia improves acute presentation, but the patient will remain at risk for paralysis until euthyroid state is achieved.
Sexual dimorphism in skeletal shape in voles (Arvicolinae): disparate selection on male bodies and female heads

Sexual dimorphism evolves as a response to different selective pressures on males and females. In mammals, sexual selection on traits that improve a male's ability to compete for access to mates is a common cause of sexual dimorphism. In addition to body mass, adaptations in specific components of the musculoskeletal system that increase strength, stability, and agility, may improve male fighting performance. Here we test the hypotheses that males, when compared to females, are more specialized for physical competition in their skeletal anatomy and that the degree of this sexual dimorphism increases with the intensity of male–male competition. In three species of voles (Cricetidae: Arvicolinae: Microtus), we found partial support for these hypotheses. Male-biased sexual dimorphism in a set of functional indices associated with improved fighting performance was identified in the postcranial anatomy. This dimorphism was greatest in the polygynous Microtus californicus, absent in the monogamous M. ochrogaster, and intermediate in the promiscuous or socially flexible M. oeconomus. However, in the skull, we found results opposite to our predictions. Females had larger skulls relative to overall skeletal size than did males. This may be associated with selection for increased food processing efficiency, which should be highly important because of the compounding effects of increased caloric requirements during gestation and lactation, and the generally low-quality diet of voles. In addition, larger heads in females may be associated with selection for greater digging ability or for defending offspring. These results suggest disparate selective pressures on the postcranial skeletons and skulls of male and female voles.
Guidance and Navigation Challenges for a Mars Ascent Vehicle

This work presents studies and analysis in support of a Mars Ascent Vehicle as part of a Martian Sample Return campaign. The vehicle design has been ongoing, with rapid development of a 6 Degree of Freedom simulation to capture full vehicle dispersions and integrated performance of vehicle, guidance, navigation and control. The maturation of this simulation is presented to provide an overview of its capabilities added over the past year of effort. The results describe in detail guidance algorithm development to increase the system's robustness to thrust sensitivities. Navigation performance and sensitivity analysis are included to describe the capabilities of the current design as well as identify primary drivers of insertion performance. Lastly, integrated vehicle 6DOF statistical results are presented to provide insight into the nominal performance of the current vehicle and insight into system-level drivers. Future work is described to outline the continuing maturation and development of the MSR MAV ascent vehicle.
Descriptive Psychology and Phenomenology: From Brentano to Husserl to the Logic of Consciousness

In his Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint (1874) Franz Brentano launched the discipline of phenomenology as descriptive psychology. Drawing on Brentano’s work, Edmund Husserl developed a conception of phenomenology founded on an enhanced theory of intentionality as a distinctive property of consciousness. Husserl expanded Brentanian descriptive psychology with an ontology of meaning or content influenced by logical theory, from Bolzano to Frege and beyond.
PATELLOFEMORAL JOINT CARTILAGE RESTORATION WITH PARTICULATED JUVENILE ALLOGRAFT IN PATIENTS UNDER 21 YEARS OLD: POSTOPERATIVE MRI ANALYSIS AND RETURN TO SPORT RATES:

Background:Patellofemoral joint cartilage defects are difficult to treat due to their unique thickness and topography. Numerous cartilage restoration techniques are available to surgeons treating a...
Regeneration of the larval sea star nervous system by wounding induced respecification to the sox2 lineage

Abstract The ability to restore lost body parts following traumatic injury is a fascinating area of biology that challenges current understanding of the ontogeny of differentiation. The origin of new cells needed to regenerate lost tissue, and whether they are pluripotent stem cells, tissue-specific stem cells or have de- or trans- differentiated, remains one of the most important open questions in regeneration. Additionally, it is not clearly known whether developmental gene regulatory networks (GRNs) are reused to direct specification in these cells or whether regeneration specific networks are deployed. Echinoderms, including sea stars, have extensive ability for regeneration and have therefore been the subject of many thorough studies on the ultrastructural and molecular properties of cells needed for regeneration. However, the technologies for obtaining transgenic echinoderms are limited and tracking cells involved in regeneration, and thus identifying the cellular sources and potencies has proven challenging. In this study we develop new transgenic tools for cell tracking in the regenerating bipinnaria larva of the sea star Patira minaita. We show that the larval serotonergic nervous system can regenerate following decapitation. Using a BAC-transgenesis approach with photoconvertible fluorescent proteins, we show that expression of the pan ectodermal marker, sox2, is induced in previously sox2 minus cells at the wound site, even when cell division is inhibited. sox2+ cells give rise to new sox4+ neural precursors that then proceed along an embryonic neurogenesis pathway to reform the anterior nervous systems. sox2+ cells contribute to only neural and ectoderm lineages, indicating that these progenitors maintain their normal, embryonic lineage restriction. This indicates that sea star larval regeneration uses a combination of existing lineage restricted stem cells, as well as respecification of cells into neural lineages, and at least partial reuse of developmental GRNs to regenerate their nervous system.
Curcumin Reduces Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Alters Gut Microbiota in Diet-Induced Obese Male Mice

SCOPE Obesity prevalence continues to increase and contribute to metabolic diseases, potentially by driving systemic inflammation. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory spice with claimed health benefits. However, mechanisms by which curcumin may reduce obesity-associated inflammation are poorly understood; thus, it is hypothesized that benefits of curcumin consumption may occur through reduced white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation and/or beneficial changes in gut bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS Male B6 mice are fed high-fat diets (HFD, 45% kcal fat) or HFD supplemented with 0.4% (w/w) curcumin (HFC) for 14 weeks. Curcumin supplementation significantly reduces adiposity and total macrophage infiltration in WAT, compared to HFD group, consistent with reduced mRNA levels of M1 (Cd80, Cd38, Cd11c) and M2 (Arginase-1) macrophage markers. Moreover, curcumin supplementation reduces expression of other key pro-inflammatory genes, such as NF-κB p65 subunit (p65), Stat1, Tlr4, and Il6, in WAT (p < 0.05). Using microbial 16S RNA sequencing, it is demonstrated that the relative abundance of the Lactococcus, Parasutterella, and Turicibacter genera are increased in the HFC group versus HFD. CONCLUSIONS Curcumin exerts protective metabolic effects in dietary obesity, in part through downregulation of adipose tissue inflammation, which may be mediated by alterations in composition of gut microbiota, and metabolism of curcumin into curcumin-O-glucuronide.
Factors Influencing Perceived Helpfulness and Participation in Innovative Research:A Pilot Study of Individuals with and without Mood Symptoms

Little is known about how individuals with and without mood disorders perceive the inherent risks and helpfulness of participating in innovative psychiatric research, or about the factors that infl...
“COVID19 is_”: The Perpetuation of Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories via Google Autocomplete

Abstract As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic grew in 2020, uncertainty surrounding its origins and nature led to widespread conspiracy-related theories (CRT). Use of technological platforms enabled the rapid and exponential dissemination of COVID-19 CRT. This study applies social contagion theory to examine how Google Autocomplete (GA) propagates and perpetuates these CRT. An in-house software program, Autocomplete Search Logging Tool (ASLT) captured a snapshot of GA COVID-19 related searches early in the pandemic (from March to May 2020) across 76 randomly-selected countries to gain insight into search behaviors around the world. Analysis identified 15 keywords relating to COVID-19 CRT predictions and demonstrate how searches across different countries received varying degrees of GA predictions. When grouped with similar keywords, two major categories were identified ?Man-Made Biological Weapon? (42%, n = 2,111), and ?Questioning Reality/Severity of COVID-19? (44%, n = 2,224). This investigation is also among the first to apply social contagion theory to autocomplete applications and can be used in future research to explain and perhaps mitigate the spread of CRT.
Automated condition assessment of buried sewer pipes based on digital imaging techniques

Assessing the condition of underground pipelines such as water lines, sewer pipes, and telecommunication conduitsvin an automated and reliable manner is vital to the safety and maintenance of buried public infrastructure. In order to fully automate the condition assessment of buried pipes, it is necessary to develop a robust defect analysis and interpretation system. This paper presents the development of an automated defect detection system for sanitary sewer pipelines using digital imaging techniques like contrast enhancement, mathematical morphology and curvature evaluation.
Pachyonychia congenita: A long-term evaluation of associated oral and dermal lesions

Abstract This article reports a long-term follow-up of a patient with pachyonychia congenita. The dermal and oral manifestations of this disease are described. The current oral changes include multiple areas of hyperkeratosis in areas susceptible to trauma. A rationale of continuing dental treatment in relation to the current oral disease is proposed to avoid undue trauma to the oral mucosa.
Ranking feature sets for emotion models used in classroom based intelligent tutoring systems

Recent progress has been made by using sensors with Intelligent Tutoring Systems in classrooms in order to predict the affective state of students users If tutors are able to interpret sensor data with new students based on past experience, rather than having to be individually trained, then this will enable tutor developers to evaluate various methods of adapting to each student's affective state using consistent predictions In the past, our classifiers have predicted student emotions with an accuracy between 78% and 87% However, it is still unclear which sensors are best, and the educational technology community needs to know this to develop better than baseline classifiers, e.g ones that use only frequency of emotional occurrence to predict affective state This paper suggests a method to clarify classifier ranking for the purpose of affective models The method begins with a careful collection of a training and testing set, each from a separate population, and concludes with a non-parametric ranking of the trained classifiers on the testing set We illustrate this method with classifiers trained on data collected in the Fall of 2008 and tested on data collected in the Spring of 2009 Our results show that the classifiers for some affective states are significantly better than the baseline model; a validation analysis showed that some but not all classifier rankings generalize to new settings Overall, our analysis suggests that though there is some benefit gained from simple linear classifiers, more advanced methods or better features may be needed for better classification performance.
Rethinking Linking: Breathing New Life into OpenURL

Rethinking Linking: Breathing New Life into OpenURL In this issue of Library Technology Reports, authors Cindi Trainor and Jason Price revisit OpenURL and library linking. The OpenURL framework for context-sensitive linking has been in use for a decade, during which library collections and users' behaviors have undergone radical change. This report examines how libraries can make use of web usability principles and data analysis to improve their local resolver installations and looks to the wider web for what the future of this integral library technology might hold. Chapter One Introduction Scope of this report The January/February 2006 issue of Library Technology Reports introduced the OpenURL standard, its history and its purpose for addressing the “complexity inherent in having multiple online copies” of an article or other item, often in multiple sources (Caplan 2001). An OpenURL link resolver is a software product that takes advantage of this standard to link a citation in one product to that item’s full text, even if that full text exists within a different product. This report builds on its predecessor by outlining issues common to OpenURL resolver products and suggests ways that libraries can address them. This report is not an introduction to link resolver software and assumes basic knowledge about library databases and the online research process. It's important to note that the authors' perspective is that of librarians passionate about improving the user experience by improving the tools that our libraries purchase, license or build, not that of experts on link resolver software or on the OpenURL standard. The principles guiding this report include: ● the resolver’s main purpose to “shorten the path” between citation and item (Dempsey 2010); ● the relationship between the library and the open web, especially Google, must be complementary, not competitive; ● OpenURL and related or successive linking initiatives must be widely adapted inside and outside libraries to facilitate the best user access to scholarly content; ● OpenURL and other linking technologies must be efficient, effective and transparent to the user. This report provides practicing librarians real-world examples and strategies for improving resolver usability and functionality in their own institutions. To prepare this report, the authors tested and evaluated link resolver installations at their own libraries. The Claremont Colleges Library subscribes to Serials Solutions’ 360 Link, and EKU is a long-time SFX customer, an ExLibris product.
Katrina's Continuing Impact on Procurement - Emergency Procurement Powers in H.R. 3766

As Hurricane Katrina relief efforts grow into the billions of dollars, the U.S. Congress is considering additional legislation to liberalize procurement, including H.R. 3766, co-sponsored by Representatives Kenny Marchant and Tom Davis. In these comments on the proposed legislation, Professors Christopher Yukins and Joshua Schwartz asked whether the proposed changes, which would eviscerate competition for most procurement related to disaster relief, are truly necessary. Professor Yukins suggests that, though it might in some circumstances be necessary to dismantle the federal regulatory regime to accommodate a wave of new firms in the federal market, there is too little evidence yet to support such radical measures. Professor Schwartz argues that there is no basis, empirically or analytically, for any effort to undo the careful protections afforded by the federal procurement system.
Reconstructing Velocities of Migrating Birds from Weather Radar – A Case Study in Computational Sustainability

Bird migration occurs at the largest of global scales, but monitoring such movements can be challenging. In the US there is an operational network of weather radars providing freely accessible data for monitoring meteorological phenomena in the atmosphere. Individual radars are sensitive enough to detect birds, and can provide insight into migratory behaviors of birds at scales that are not possible using other sensors. Archived data from the WSR-88D network of US weather radars hold valuable and detailed information about the continent-scale migratory movements of birds over the last 20 years. However, significant technical challenges must be overcome to understand this information and harness its potential for science and conservation. We describe recent work on an AI system to quantify bird migration using radar data, which is part of the larger BirdCast project to model and forecast bird migration at large scales using radar, weather, and citizen science data.
Uncertainty Analysis of Thermal Transmission Properties Determined by ASTM C177-04

An uncertainty analysis for steady-state thermal transmission properties determined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 1016 mm guarded-hot-plate apparatus is presented for fibrous-glass blanket and expanded polystyrene board. The uncertainties are presented for the guarded-hot-plate apparatus in the single-sided mode of operation covering specimen heat flows from 0.5 to 5 W. The relative expanded uncertainties for thermal resistance increase from 1 % to 3.5 % for thicknesses of 25.4 to 254 mm, respectively. Although these uncertainties have been developed for two thermal insulation materials, the results are indicative of other insulation materials measured at a mean temperature near 297 K (23.9°C). This assessment of uncertainties is of particular interest for users of ASTM C177-04 test method that operate similar apparatus at low heat flows (i.e., near or less than 1 W). Implications for laboratories that develop secondary standards from NIST calibrations are discussed.
Preventing Blindness and Saving Lives: The Centenary of Vitamin A

Within 20 years of its discovery 100 years ago, vitamin A was recognized as critical to normal eyes, growth, and survival. Clinical interest subsequently contracted to its importance in preventing xerophthalmia, until this ophthalmologist stumbled, quite accidently, on its role in fighting life-threatening infections. Repeated, large-scale randomized clinical trials eventually convinced (and reminded) the pediatric and nutrition communities of its importance for child survival. Vitamin A distribution programs are now credited with saving the sight and lives of nearly half a million children every year.
Pressure modulates monocyte migration

Migration of monocytes into the subendothelial space of the aorta has been considered to be an important event in the development of atherosclerosis. Because hypertension is commonly associated with atherosclerosis, we studied the effect of applied pressure on the migration of monocytes. Direct applied pressure increased the migration (P < .001) of monocytes across a filter when compared with normal atmospheric pressure. The migration of monocytes was found to be directly related to the amount of the applied pressure. Amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, attenuated the migration of monocytes under normal as well as increased pressure conditions in a dose-dependent manner. These studies provide a basis to speculate on the role of direct pressure in the migration of monocytes into the subendothelial space and the possibility that vasoactive agents may modulate the migration of monocytes independent of their pressure-lowering effect.
Plasticity of temporal information processing in the primary auditory cortex

Neurons in the rat primary auditory cortex (A1) generally cannot respond to tone sequences faster than 12 pulses per second (pps). To test whether experience can modify this maximum following rate in adult rats, trains of brief tones with random carrier frequency but fixed repetition rate were paired with electrical stimulation of the nucleus basalis (NB) 300 to 400 times per day for 20–25 days. Pairing NB stimulation with 5-pps stimuli markedly decreased the cortical response to rapidly presented stimuli, whereas pairing with 15-pps stimuli significantly increased the maximum cortical following rate. In contrast, pairing with fixed carrier frequency 15-pps trains did not significantly increase the mean maximum following rate. Thus this protocol elicits extensive cortical remodeling of temporal response properties and demonstrates that simple differences in spectral and temporal features of the sensory input can drive very different cortical reorganizations.
Why you can't cite Wikipedia in my class

The online encyclopedia's method of adding information risks conflating facts with popular opinion.
Modeling hydrologic alterations to a developing wetland in an abandoned borrow pit

Three management alternatives for modifying the duration and extent of ponding at a developing wetland in northern Texas, USA, were evaluated. These alternatives, causing minimal environmental disruption and requiring little maintenance, included installing a slurry wall to back up groundwater, raising water levels in a nearby river channel and applying water directly to the wetland. The wetland resides in a topographic depression which was created by excavating sediment for an earthen dam. The authors characterised the hydrogeology of the wetland, devised a numerical model to simulate groundwater flow and used the model to study potential hydrologic modifications to the wetland. Evapotranspiration and recharge dominate the water budget of the site. Model-calculated hydraulic head values indicated that applying water directly to the wetland elevates the water-table, while installing a downgradient slurry wall and elevating stages of nearby surface water bodies have little effect. These results suggest that diverting surface water should be an effective management technique for groundwater-fed wetlands with sediment of low to moderate hydraulic conductivity.
Comparison of the CALIPSO satellite and ground‐based observations of cirrus clouds at the ARM TWP sites

[1] Statistics of ice cloud macrophysical and optical properties from the Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) instrument on board the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite are compared with those from ground-based lidar observations over a 31 month period. Ground-based lidar observations are taken from the micropulse lidars (MPL) at the three Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) tropical western pacific (TWP) sites: Manus, Nauru and Darwin. CALIPSO observations show a larger cloud fraction at high altitudes while the ground-based MPLs show a larger cloud fraction at low altitudes. The difference in mean ice cloud top and base heights at the Manus and Nauru sites are all within 0.51 km, although differences are statistically significant. Mean ice cloud geometrical thickness agree to within 0.05 km at the Manus and Nauru sites. Larger differences exist at Darwin due to excessive degradation of the MPL output power during our sampling period. Both sets of observations show thicker clouds during the nighttime which may be real but could also be partially an artifact of the decreased signal-to-noise ratio during the daytime. The number of ice cloud layers per profile are also shown to be consistent after accounting for the difference in spatial resolution. For cloud optical depths, four different retrieval methods are compared, two for each set of observations. All products show that the majority of ice cloud optical depths (∼60%) fall below an optical depth of 0.2. For most comparisons all four retrievals agree to within the uncertainty intervals. We find that both CALIPSO retrievals agree best to ground-based optical depths when the lidar ratio in the latter is retrieved instead of set to a fixed value. Also thoroughly compared is the cloud properties for the subset of ice clouds which reside in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL).
Relationship between salivary and serum testosterone levels in response to different exercise intensities.

the anabolic hormone testosterone (t) continues to be researched extensively in exercise studies, with blood serum or plasma samples collected routinely. this method is considered both valid and reliable; however, the collection process can be invasive and difficult during exercise. For this reason, non-invasive sampling, such as saliva collections, is increasing in popularity. PUrPOsE: to investigate the association between salivary and serum t before and after various intensities of exercise to assess the validity of saliva collection for t measurement. MEtHODs: 12 endurance-trained males (Mean±sD; VO 2max 58.2±6.4 ml/kg/min, 22±4.6 years, bMI 21.6±1.9) completed three 30-minute exercise (cycling) sessions at 40% (Low), 60% (Moderate), and 80% (High) of VO 2max as well as a 30-minute resting control session on four separate days. salivary (s) and serum (s) samples were assessed for t prior to (Pre), immediately post (Post), and 30 minutes post (30 Min Post) each session. rEsULts: Low exercise caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in st, but not st, while Moderate and High exercise caused an increase (p<0.01) in both st and st. A strong positive correlation (spearman [r s ]) existed between st and st in the Moderate (r s = 0.912 [p<0.001; n=36; 12 subjects x 3 measurement times-samples]), and High (r s = 0.898 [p<0.001]) sessions, but not as strong for the Low (r = 0.517 [p=0.001]) session. cONcLUsIONs: these results suggest that st and st levels are strongly associated to exercise. However, the exercise-related st and st responses-changes were more closely aligned at Moderate and High intensities, suggesting a greater validity between the saliva and serum responses to higher intensity exercise.
Fulfillment as Sanders' Sixth Phase of Bereavement: The Unfinished Work of Catherine Sanders

Prior to her death, Catherine Sanders was interested in modifying her earlier work on the phases of grief. She had begun to explore the conceptualization of a sixth phase of the grieving process th...
Staying “On Message”: Consistency in Content of Presidential Primary Campaign Messages Across Media

This study investigates the extent to which candidates in the 2008 presidential primary campaign adhered to the convention wisdom that candidates should stay “on message.” Content analysis investigated multiple media (announcement speeches, TV spots, radio spots, debates, candidate webpages, and candidate MySpace/Facebook pages) from 9 Democratic and 12 Republican candidates. Four variables were investigated: functions, topics, party issue emphasis, and own party issue ownership. Although there was considerable consistency across message form, results revealed that 63 of 76 comparisons candidates were not consistent in tone, topic, party issue emphasis, or own party issue emphasis across messages. Post hoc analyses excluding debates (where the candidates have less control over the content of their messages, given the expectation that they will respond to the questions asked) revealed differences even among the message forms over which candidates have complete control over content.
CYCLIC PENTAOXYPHOSPHORANES AS MODELS FOR cAMP ACTION. AN AB INITIO APPROACH

Abstract Ab inirio molecular orbital calculations on monocyclic pentaoxyphosphorane molecules as model states in cyclic AMP action are carried out. Five-membered-ring systems are included for comparison. Minimum energy geometries in trigonal bipyramidal configurations that position the rings in axial–equatorial (a–e) sites are compared with those for diequatorial (e–e) ring locations. The models are made in-creasingly more complex approaching proposed intermediates in enzymatic hydrolysis of cAMP. These contain ribose rings trans-fused to the saturated six-membered ring of the pentacoordinated phosphorus state. All calculations show the e–e ring location to be higher in energy than the a–e ring arrangement. The computed energies and P–O bond lengths are compared with VT NMR activation energics for ligand exchange and with X-ray structural studies, respectively, on pentaoxyphosphoranes. The computations strongly support proposals for in-line enzymatic hydrolysis of cAMP with the ring positioned at a–e site...
OFDMA feedback optimization in 4G-LTE systems

The feedback load is an important parameter with a large impact in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) techniques, as a feedback over each one of the subcarriers will induce a non-acceptable signalling load in the system, so that some optimization and feedback reduction strategies are required to meet practical systems demands. The decision over the best strategy for feedback optimization highly depends on the number of available users in the system. We obtain the users' effect on the system through a feedback strategy over a subset of the subcarriers showing the best channel conditions, where a closed form expression of the obtained data rate is formulated to exactly indicate the effect of the number of users, the operating SNR and/or the available number of feedback bits in the system. The performance of the presented scheme is compared to the One-bit feedback strategy in terms of the resultant data rate, where interesting conclusions are obtained.
Multifocal Castleman disease in pediatrics: case report.

Summary: Multicentric Castleman disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown cause. It is especially rare in children. The authors describe a 4-year-old girl that presented with protracted fever, hypoalbuminemia, thrombocytopenia, anasarca, and disseminated lymphadenopathy. Despite a comprehensive evaluation, her diagnosis remained elusive for several weeks. Eventually, a lymph node biopsy showed the presence of multicentric Castleman disease of mixed type. Due to her relatively poor prognosis and severity of the disease, she was treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone. She tolerated her therapy well and is currently free of disease at 36 months of follow-up.
A material-balance approach for modeling bacterial chemotaxis to a consumable substrate in the capillary assay.

A mathematical model was developed to simulate the movement of chemotactic bacteria into and within a capillary tube containing a metabolizable chemoattractant. The model was based on a material balance that accounts for the transport of bacteria and chemoattractant as well as consumption of the substrate throughout the capillary assay system. By solving the model with a numerical method, it was possible to predict the concentration of substrate and bacteria at points within the capillary and throughout the chamber. The model was tested for its ability to simulate the results of capillary assay experiments performed with Pseudomonas putida G7 and one of its chemoattractants, naphthalene, under conditions wherein naphthalene consumption was expected to affect the flux of bacteria into the capillary. While variations in the chemotactic responses were evident among different experiments, the model could simulate the accumulation of cells in the capillary using previously determined parameters, including the chemotactic sensitivity and random motility coefficients, chi(0) and mu. In particular, model predictions were consistent with the experimental observation that the chemotactic response in the capillary is diminished under conditions wherein consumption would be expected to be significant.