cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do resources of network members help in help seeking? Social capital and health information search

Abstract Does social capital as resources of network members affect health information search? Analyzing data from the 2004 General Social Survey in the United States, this study measures two social capital indicators (average education of network members and proportion of network members with a high school degree or higher) using the name generator. Most results are consistent using those two indicators. Both indicators are positively associated with frequency of health information seeking and seekers’ frequency of use of two sources (friends or relatives and the Internet). Also average education of network members is positively associated with seekers’ diversity of used sources and frequency of consultation with medical professionals. But neither indicator is associated with seekers’ frequency of use of other four sources (health-related magazines or newsletters, general magazines, daily newspapers, and radio or television programs). The findings demonstrate the theoretical utility of social capital in the social dynamics of medical help-seeking.
Chronic alterations in cardiac mechanics after fetal closed heart operation

Pulmonary artery banding was performed in 8 fetal sheep at 125 days' gestation to evaluate the feasibility of fetal closed cardiac operation. At 135 days' gestation, the fetuses were delivered and the cardiac mechanics were evaluated using a modified Langendorff isolated heart preparation. Two of the 8 fetuses aborted spontaneously 2 and 7 days after operation. Six fetuses (75%) survived the 10 days after delivery. The left ventricular cardiac mechanics in the banded fetuses (group I) were compared with those in 8 control fetuses (group II). All fetal hearts in both groups displayed a significant volume-pressure relationship. The volume-pressure curve was found to be shifted upward and to the left in the fetal hearts after pulmonary artery banding. The left ventricles subjected to increased in utero preload secondary to pulmonary artery banding were capable of generating greater peak systolic and developed pressures. Because the fetal heart manifests a Starling type of preload reserve, as such, it demonstrates that the possibility exists for subsequent fetal development to be altered by intrauterine intervention.
An analysis of recent deep-sea benthic foraminiferal morphotypes from the Norwegian and Greenland seas

Abstract Benthic foraminifera from 36 core tops from the Norwegian and Greenland seas have been placed into morphotype categories based on test shape, nature of coiling, and the presence or absence of wall pores. These morphotypes have distinctive patterns with water depth and are related to species-specific microhabitat preferences. The morphotype data are used to reconstruct the water depth distribution of foraminiferal microhabitats in the region. Infaunal morphotypes exist predominantly in shallow-water sediments ( 1500 m). The morphological patterns documented in this study are similar to those observed on the southwestern continental margin of Norway, demonstrating that these patterns exist over a large part of the Greenland and Norwegian seas.
Gramicidin A Aggregation in Supported Gel State Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers

Using an atomic force microscope, supported bilayers of saturated phosphatidylcholine (in the gel state) containing various amounts of gramicidin A (gA) were imaged in aqueous solutions and at room temperature. gA clusters were directly observed for the first time under these conditions. It was found that, at a lower gA concentration, gA aggregated into domains, composed of small clusters along with a considerable amount of lipids. This basic aggregation unit, most likely a hexamer, remained the same for acyl chain lengths from 14 to 18 carbons. These small clusters were observed to form elongated aggregates (line type) but never into extended pure gA domains. When gA concentrations were increased, for bilayers with 16 carbons or less, gA aggregated into larger domains but the basic unit remained separated by lipid molecules. At about 5 mol % gA, a percolation-like transition occurred at which the line type aggregates were connected to each other. However, for bilayers with more than 16 carbons, multiple lamellar structures were formed at higher gA fractions and the top layer had a ripple-like surface morphology. The molecular mechanism for the formation of these peculiar structures remains to be elucidated.
Visual Search has Memory

By monitoring subjects' eye movements during a visual search task, we examined the possibility that the mechanism responsible for guiding attention during visual search has no memory for which locations have already been examined. Subjects did reexamine some items during their search, but the pattern of revisitations did notfit the predictions of the memory less search model. In addition, a large proportion of the refixations were directed at the target, suggesting that the revisitations were due to subjects' remembering which items had not been adequately identified. We also examined the patterns of fixations and compared them with the predictions of a memoryless search model Subjects' fixation patterns showed an increasing hazard function, whereas the memoryless model predicts a flat function. Lastly, we found no evidence suggesting that fixations were guided by amnesic covert scans that scouted the environment for new items during fixations. Results do not support the claims of the memorvless search model, and instead suggest that visual search does have memory.
PINCH, N(i)ck and the ILK: network wiring at cell–matrix adhesions

Cell-extracellular-matrix adhesion and communication are mediated by integrins and a complex network of proteins that link integrins to the actin cytoskeleton. In this article, I discuss recent evidence that indicates that PINCH-1 and integrin-linked kinase (ILK), which form a tight complex in cells, serve as one of the hubs in the integrin-actin network. This hub mediates many protein interactions with a wide range of affinities (K(D) ranging from >10(-3)M to <10(-7)M). Furthermore, many of these interactions are evolutionally conserved and functionally indispensable for maintaining the integrity of and signaling through the integrin-actin network. Consequently, loss of the PINCH-1-ILK complex is disastrous for embryogenesis in vertebrates and invertebrates. By contrast, aberrance of individual interactions contributes to diverse defects. Dissecting the interactions and functions that are mediated by the PINCH-1-ILK complex presents an exciting challenge and an opportunity to unravel the structure and functions of the integrin-actin network.
Visualizing potential parallelism in sequential programs

This paper presents ParaMeter, an interactive program analysis and visualization system for large traces. Using ParaMeter, a software developer can locate and analyze regions of code that may yield to parallelization efforts and to possibly extract performance from multicore hardware. The key contributions in the paper are (1) a method to use interactive visualization of traces to find and exploit parallelism, (2) interactive-speed visualization of large-scale trace dependencies, (3) interactive-speed visualization of code interactions, and (4) a BDD variable ordering for BDD-compressed traces that results in fast visualization, fast analysis, and good compression. ParaMeter's effectiveness is demonstrated by finding and exploiting parallelism in 175.vpr. Measurements of ParaMeter's visualization algorithms show that they are up to seventy-five thousand times faster than prior approaches.
Mixing regular convex polytopes

The mixing operation for abstract polytopes gives a natural way to construct a minimal common cover of two polytopes. In this paper, we apply this construction to the regular convex polytopes, determining when the mix is again a polytope, and completely determining the structure of the mix in each case.
Field driven STT-MRAM cell for reduced switching latency and energy

A field driven approach to STT-MRAM switching is proposed as a method for reducing the switching latency of an MTJ in high performance caches. An MRAM array model is presented to characterize the switching energy and maximum achievable reduction in energy using the field driven approach. The switching latency per bit is reduced by more than a factor of ten. The resultant switching energy per bit is reduced by 82% as compared to a standard STT-MRAM. I. INTRODUCTION Spin torque transfer magnetoresistive RAM (STT-MRAM) is an emerging CMOS compatible memory technology with the potential to replace on-chip memory. Key features of STT- MRAM are non-volatility and unlimited write endurance. An issue constraining the use of STT-MRAM, however, is the long switching latency of the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) within each memory cell. The long latency causes the switching energy of an MTJ to be much greater than traditional CMOS SRAM. To address these issues, the classic first generation MRAM field topology is utilized with an STT-MTJ where an additional field current destabilizes the MTJ prior to switching, thereby reducing the switching latency. An analytic framework for assessing and optimizing field driven writes in STT-MRAM arrays is described in this paper. Building on this framework, it is shown that the switching latency and energy can be reduced by amortizing the additional field current over many cells, leading to a significant reduction in energy consumed per bit. Background on STT-MRAM and classical MRAM is pro- vided in Section II. The field driven approach is compared with classical MRAM approaches in Section III, while a model of a memory cell is presented in Section IV. A model of an MRAM array is reviewed in Section V. Some conclusions are offered in Section VI.
A Simulation of the Catalytic Mechanism of Aspartylglucosaminidase Using ab Initio Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Dynamics

Ab initio quantum mechanical (QM) and molecular dynamics (MD) methods have been used to study the catalytic mechanism of aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA)-catalyzed hydrolysis of an amide bond. QM active-site models were used to calculate the reaction sequences of the acylation and deacylation parts of the catalytic reaction at the MP2/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* level. MD simulations, in which the structures of the active sites were constrained to the geometries obtained from the QM model calculations, were carried out for all the species of the reaction sequence. Structural information from the MD simulations was used in the subsequent QM calculations in which the charge distribution of the protein environment and solvent was included as a set of atomic point charges. These QM calculations provided an estimate of the effects of the protein environment on the energetics of the catalytic reaction. The reaction mechanism was also simulated using a continuum model for the aqueous solvent, in order to differentiate genera...
Myeloperoxidase activity imaging using (67)Ga labeled substrate.

The aim of the study is to assess the feasibility of imaging specific activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), a leukocyte enzyme with important roles in inflammation and atherosclerosis, by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using a novel 67Ga-labeled radiotracer obtained by conjugating desferrioxamine (DF) and hydroxyindolyl acetic acid in vivo. A reducing substrate of MPO (I) was synthesized by reacting commercially available DF with 2-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl) acetic acid in the presence of a coupling agent [dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC)]. The chelating unit was labeled with 67Ga, and its interaction with MPO was characterized using MALDI-TOF and UV–vis. Mice with Matrigel implants containing human MPO were used to model diseased tissues rich in MPO. Three hours after the injection of 67Ga–I, SPECT/computed tomography (CT) imaging was performed on a high-resolution Gamma Medica X-SPECT system. Biodistribution studies were performed six hours after the injection of the radiotracer. The feasibility of compound I oligomerization in the presence of MPO and MPO-mediated cross-linking with proteins was initially confirmed in vitro. In vivo, a 2.7-fold increase in target-to-muscle ratio could be measured in MPO-containing Matrigel implants in mice. Biodistribution experiments demonstrated a 60% increase of radioactivity in MPO-containing vs. control (contralateral) Matrigel implants. 67Ga–I can be used to image MPO activity in a model system. The accumulation mechanism is based on a differential pharmacokinetics because of the size increase resulting from 67Ga–I interaction with the target enzyme.
Fatigue behavior of integrally fabricated joints between titanium matrix composite and titanium alloy

Abstract An integrally fabricated double scarf joint, with a taper ratio of 20:1, between the monolithic titanium alloy and the silicon carbide fiber reinforced titanium matrix composite was studied under the monotonic and fatigue loading (both tension–tension and tension–compression) conditions. Further, the two parent materials forming this functionally graded material system were characterized under the similar loading conditions to compare their performance. In general, the mechanical response of the functionally graded material system was in-between those of the alloy and the composite under all loading conditions. The ultimate tensile strength of the functionally graded material showed a small improvement over that of the alloy; however, its modulus of elasticity in the joint region was about the average of its counterparts of alloy and composite. There was also a small improvement in fatigue life of the functionally graded material relative to that of the monolithic alloy in both tension–tension and tension–compression conditions. The fatigue damage initiated at fiber ends in the joint region and then progressed in the monolithic alloy section. The functionally graded material system containing the integrally fabricated joint between the monolithic titanium alloy and the titanium matrix composite provided the expected performance, i.e., it performed at least similar to its weakest link, i.e., titanium alloy, and it has potential to provide the practical benefits of cost, durability etc.
What Research Says to the Educator: Part One: Environmental Education and the Affective Domain

(1989). What Research Says to the Educator: Part One: Environmental Education and the Affective Domain. The Journal of Environmental Education: Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 3-9.
Parent-son decision-making about human papillomavirus vaccination: a qualitative analysis.

Background Licensed for use in males in 2009, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in adolescent males are extremely low. Literature on HPV vaccination focuses on females, adult males, or parents of adolescent males, without including adolescent males or the dynamics of the parent-son interaction that may influence vaccine decision-making. The purpose of this paper is to examine the decision-making process of parent-son dyads when deciding whether or not to get vaccinated against HPV.
Techniques of radiofrequency-assisted precoagulation in laparoscopic liver resection

Although radiofrequency-assisted (RF) precoagulation has been described for open resections, there is little data evaluating precoagulation options in laparoscopic liver resection. The purpose of this study is to provide an algorithm for the use of monopolar and bipolar RF devices in laparoscopic liver resection. Patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection utilizing precoagulation during the period 2007–2009 were identified from a prospectively maintained, institutional review board-approved database. RF-assisted precoagulation was performed using a second-generation monopolar RF ablation catheter (Starburst XL, AngioDynamics) or bipolar RF device (Habib 4X, AngioDynamics). Precoagulation was utilized in 31cases (monopolar, n = 19, and bipolar, n = 12). Procedures performed included segmentectomy/wedge resection in 19 patients and bisegmentectomy in 12 patients. The bipolar RF device was used for left lateral sectionectomies (90%) in which there was linear transaction, whereas the monopolar RF catheter was used for nonlinear segmental and wedge resections involving the right lobe (95%). Time required for precoagulation was 22.5 ± 7.2 min for the bipolar and 33.6 ± 15.9 min for the monopolar device. No patient developed postoperative bleeding, bile duct injury, or liver abscess. At follow-up, one patient in the monopolar group developed a suspected local recurrence. We have suggested an algorithm to select a given device based on tumor location and type of resection. With approximately 30 min of time spent for precoagulation, the blood loss and rate of local recurrence were favorable. There also could be an oncologic benefit due to additional functional margin obtained with the RF effect.
In vitro polarization of dental amalgam in human saliva.

Summary Potentiostatic anodic polarization techniques in Ringer's solution are commonly used for the evaluation of the corrosion resistance of dental amalgam. This in vitro method strives to simulate the in vivo electrochemical behaviour of amalgam in an electrolyte of natural saliva. Several types of dental amalgam were anodically polarized in natural saliva solutions and supernatant saliva solutions. The anodic polarization profiles are presented, as well as scanning electron micrographs and X-ray analysis of the corroded amalgam surfaces. These reveal corrosion products consistent with results found with previous artificial salivas as well as deposits possibly related to the organic component of natural saliva.
In situ infrared study of pyridine adsorption/desorption dynamics over sulfated zirconia and Pt-promoted sulfated zirconia

Abstract The dynamic behavior of adsorbed pyridine and the sulfate group has been studied over sulfated zirconia (SZ) and Pt-promoted sulfated zirconia (Pt/SZ) by in situ infrared (IR) spectroscopy coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). IR analysis confirmed that pretreating SZ in flowing He at 500 °C led to the formation of SO species. Pyridine adsorption caused desorption of sulfur in the form of SO3. IR and MS analyses coupled with a temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) study confirmed that pyridine adsorbed onto the Lewis acid sites was oxidized to CO2 while the pyridine–Bronsted acid site complexes showed little desorption or oxidation. Addition of Pt onto sulfated zirconia led to enhanced Bronsted acidity when treated with H2; higher loading of Pt led to decreased thermal stability of the sulfate group, promoting desorption of SO2 during the TPD. This is the first report that presents dynamic analyses of pyridine adsorption/desorption phenomena over sulfated zirconia samples.
The Shortest Watchtower and Related Problems for Polyhedral Terrains

Abstract We present an O(n log2 n) algorithm for finding the shortest vertical segment (‘watchtower’) uv that has to be erected on a polyhedral terrain S with n faces, so that its top endpoint can see the entire terrain S. An extension of our technique yields an O(n log2 n + k) time algorithm for calculating the lower envelope of two polyhedral terrains, one of which is convex, where k is combinatorial complexity of the output envelope.
Health outcomes associated with beta-blocker and diltiazem treatment of unstable angina

Abstract Objective. We compared long-term health outcomes associated with beta-adrenergic blocking agents and diltiazem treatment for unstable angina. Background. No long-term data have been published comparing these two antianginal treatments in this setting. Methods. Eligible veterans were discharged from the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS), Seattle Division, between October 1989 and September 1995 with an unstable angina diagnosis and were prescribed monotherapy beta-blocker or diltiazem treatment at discharge. Medication data were collected from medical records and computerized VAPSHCS outpatient pharmacy files. Follow-up death and coronary artery disease rehospitalization data were collected through 1996. Proportional hazards regression compared survival among diltiazem and beta-blocker users, controlling for patient characteristics with propensity scores. Results. Two hundred forty-seven veterans (24% on beta-blockers, 76% on diltiazem) were included in this study. There were 54 (22%) deaths during an average follow-up of 51 months. After propensity score adjustment, there was no difference in risk of death comparing diltiazem to beta-blocker treatment (hazards ratios [HR] 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49 to 2.4). Among Washington residents (n = 207), there were 146 (71%) coronary artery disease rehospitalizations or deaths during follow-up. After adjustment, there was a nonsignificant increase in risk of rehospitalization or death associated with diltiazem use (HR 1.4; 95% CI 0.80 to 2.4). For both analyses, similar risks were found among veterans without relative contraindications to beta-blockers. Conclusions. We found no survival benefit of diltiazem over beta-blocker treatment for unstable angina in this cohort of veterans.
Efficient T/R switch design for beam steering with liquid crystal spatial light modulator

Liquid crystal spatial light modulators have important applications in nonmechanical beam steering. In this application, a suitable T/R switch that separates the transmitter and receiver of the system is required. Since LC devices require a certain linear polarization state incident upon it in order to steer an incoming laser beam, previous T/R switches through the use of the combination of a circular polarization state and a polarization beam splitter proved to be a lossy solution. Through the use of a two dimensional reflection type liquid crystal spatial light modulator and a large clear aperture Faraday rotator, it is possible to develop a fairly compact and efficient nonmechanical beam steering device, which can be utilized in laser scanning imaging systems. In this paper, we will present the design of such a T/R switch. Experimental results at a 1.06 μm operation wavelength will be demonstrated.
Participative organizational change and adaptation: insights from a qualitative case study of successful change

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to discuss the participative and inclusive approach to organizational change and provide empirical insights from a successful case. Design/methodology/approach – The article builds upon a qualitative case study on organizational change. The author conducted 12 interviews with past directors and managers that took active part in Valio’s strategic change. Findings – The findings indicate how inclusiveness can be implemented in the three central areas of strategic change management: communicating, debating and implementing change. Inclusiveness can strengthen the legitimacy of the change process and allow for solutions to emerge from within the organization. The former becomes especially important in cases where strategic change involves difficult decisions like downsizing and layoffs, while the latter can give rise to original approaches that can be particularly suited to the organization and are thus easier to implement and be accepted. Originality/value – The article presents empirical insights from a case study to propose inclusiveness as a central element in organizational change. Such insights can help managers and organization leaders seeking to initiate strategic change.
Differential read-out architecture for CMOS ISFET microsystems

The operation of a pH (H/sup +/ ion concentration) sensitive ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) microsystem with a sensitivity of 40-45 mV/pH is demonstrated. This system has two identical ISFETs as the inputs to a pair of ISFET operational transconductance amplifiers (IOTAs) arranged in a novel differential architecture. The IOTAs have different sized p-MOSFET load transistors that enable pH sensitive operation without any post-fabrication processing or material deposition. The CMOS ISFET chip is fabricated in an unmodified 1.5 /spl mu/m commercial process.
Raman spectra of biomedical samples using optical fiber probes

We have investigated various optical fiber probes for remote Raman scattering measurements in tissues. The diameter of the optical fiber probe was kept below 3 mm in order to be able o fit into the working channel of existing endoscopes for in vivo measurements inside the human body. Different designs were tested to examine the best possible arrangement of the required optical. The main problems encountered arising from the Raman scattering and fluorescence emission inside the fiber itself are discussed and possible approaches to overcome the limitations are addressed.
Gastrointestinal Histoplasmosis in a Hepatitis C-Infected Individual

Gastrointestinal histoplasmosis is a rare manifestation of this fungal infection, typically identified in immunocompromised patients, such as those with HIV/AIDS. Here, we report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis with gastrointestinal involvement in a Hepatitis C-infected patient. The fungal agent was confirmed to be Histoplasma capsulatum by a DNA probe assay performed on a bone marrow sample. We propose that this fungal disease should be kept on the differential of patients infected with the Hepatitis C virus, as it has been reported to have numerous damaging effects on the adaptive immune system.
An Examination of Proxy Measures of Workplace Spirituality: A Profile Model of Multidimensional Constructs:

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a theoretical foundation to operationalize the constructs of spirituality from existing established measures. Several constructs from existing literature - perceived organizational support, affective organizational commitment, and intrinsic job satisfaction are used to measure aspects of workplace spirituality. As a result, a profile model of multidimensional constructs is used to explain the conceptual relationships.
Reading, Writing, and Race: The Desegregation of the Charlotte Schools

Using Charlotte, North Carolina, as a case study of the dynamics of racial change in the 'moderate' South, Davison Douglas analyzes the desegregation of the city's public schools from the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision through the early 1970s, when the city embarked upon the most ambitious school busing plan in the nation. In charting the path of racial change, Douglas considers the relative efficacy of the black community's use of public demonstrations and litigation to force desegregation. He also evaluates the role of the city's white business community, which was concerned with preserving Charlotte's image as a racially moderate city, in facilitating racial gains. Charlotte's white leadership, anxious to avoid economically damaging racial conflict, engaged in early but decidedly token integration in the late 1950s and early 1960s in response to the black community's public protest and litigation efforts. The insistence in the late 1960s on widespread busing, however, posed integration demands of an entirely different magnitude. As Douglas shows, the city's white leaders initially resisted the call for busing but eventually relented because they recognized the importance of a stable school system to the city's continued prosperity. |Using Charlotte, North Carolina, as a case study of the dynamics of racial change in the 'moderate' South, Davison Douglas analyzes the desegregation of the city's public schools from the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision through the early 1970s, when the city embarked upon the most ambitious school busing plan in the nation.
A modeling approach to evaluate the impacts of water quality management plans implemented in a watershed in Texas

Several best management practices (BMPs) have been implemented through Water Quality Management Plans (WQMPs) in the West Fork Watershed of Trinity River Basin in Texas, USA, where nonpoint source pollution is a serious concern. Major sources of pollution are sediment erosion and nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of implementation of WQMPs on nonpoint source pollution at the farm level and watershed level using a modeling approach. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool watershed model was applied to quantify the impacts of implementing WQMPs on sediment and nutrients. A preBMP scenario representing conditions of the watershed prior to the implementation of WQMPs, and a post-BMP scenario representing the conditions of the watershed after implementation of WQMPs were simulated to estimate the reductions in nonpoint source pollution due to WQMP implementation. The results are presented as percentage reductions in sediment and nutrient loadings, at the farm level and at two locations within the watershed. The results revealed that (a) the benefits of the WQMPs were greater (up to 99%) at the farm level and (b) the benefits due to WQMPs were 1e2% at the watershed level. Watershed level benefits are tangible as the WQMP implementation area is very small compared to the watershed area. An additional scenario was evaluated to show the possible impacts of expanding the current BMP effort on load reductions. This study showed that a modeling approach can be used to estimate the impacts of water quality management programs in large watersheds. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Does watching television rot your mind? Estimates of the effect on test scores

Abstract This study examines whether the number of hours of television watched by young adults is associated with performance on standardized exams and whether any such relationship is causal. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the High School and Beyond survey and the National Education Longitudinal Study all indicate a negative cross-sectional relationship between hours of television viewing and test scores, even after controlling for a variety of socioeconomic characteristics. However, endogeneity bias may underlie this negative relationship. Models that include individual or family fixed effects to partially control for endogeneity suggest that television viewing does not negatively affect performance on standardized exams.
Outdiffusion as a Technique for the Production of Diodes and Transistors

The outdiffusion process, which consists of the extraction of impurities from a semiconductor wafer by heating it to an elevated temperature in a high vacuum, is shown to be a practical method for the production of diodes and transistors. The usefulness of outdiffusion as a technique for device fabrication depends on how easily impurities can be evaporated from the crystal surface. The surface-evaporation velocity K which characterizes the ease of removal of impurities has been determined for the evaporation of antimony out of germanium at 700°C and is (1.5±0.5)×10-8 cm/sec. This value is large enough to indicate that it is definitely feasible to make high-frequency devices by outdiffusion. Narrow base germanium computer diodes have been fabricated that have a forward drop of 0.11 volt at 1 ma and that switch at speeds up to 5 mc. The operation of these graded base diodes is analyzed. Germanium n-p-n graded base transistors have also been fabricated which have grounded-emitter current gains, s, of over 100 and alpha frequency cutoffs, f?co, of above 200 mc.
Imaging Deep Holes in Structures with Gaseous Secondary Electron Detection in the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope

The gaseous secondary electron detector (GSED) in the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) permits collection of electron signals from deep inside blind holes in both conducting and insulating materials. The placement of the GSED as the final pressure-limiting aperture of the ESEM creates a situation of apparent illumination along the line of sight of the observer. In principle, any point struck by the primary beam can be imaged. Image quality depends on the depth of the hole. In brass, features at the bottom of a 1.5 mm diameter hole that was 8 mm deep were successfully imaged.
Identifying cancer patients at risk for venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a known complication of cancer which impacts on patient mortality and quality of life. Despite the known deleterious effects of VTE, the benefits of thromboprophylaxis have not been fully established. Identification of patients at highest risk of VTE could lead to better targeting of thromboprophylaxis. Several risk factors have been identified as contributing to VTE such as site and stage of cancer, age, comorbidities, obesity, and acquired prothrombotic states. Anti-cancer agents as well as the use of growth factor support have also been implicated in VTE. Recent data have identified biomarkers such as blood counts, tissue factor and P-selectin. In this review, we briefly summarize the risk factors for VTE as well as candidate biomarkers for VTE in cancer patients. We also review a validated risk score that can identify cancer patients at high risk for VTE. Risk stratification of cancer patients will allow clinicians to identify those patients at highest risk for VTE, who may derive the most benefit from thromboprophylaxis.
The role of integrin antagonists in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease are chronic inflammatory diseases of the bowel associated with complex inflammatory cascades within the mucosal lining of the gut.Areas covered: INTEGRINS and their use as therapies in UC and Crohn’s.Expert Opinion: The anti-adhesion molecules are a welcome addition to the armamentarium of medical therapies for inflammatory bowel disease.
Understanding Mobile Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract Steve Love. Understanding Mobile Human-Computer Interaction. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005. 203 pages. ISBN: 0-7506-6352-9
Expression of opsin mRNA in normal and vitamin A deficient retinas of the sphingid moth Manduca sexta.

Two distinct opsin-encoding cDNAs, designated MANOP1 and MANOP2, were isolated as 3′ fragments from the sphingid moth Manduca sexta . They were obtained by reverse transcription of retinal RNA and amplification with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a degenerate primer designed to an amino-acid sequence conserved in arthropod opsins. The cDNA fragments labelled bands at approximately 1.8 kb on Northern blots of retinal RNA extracts. Levels of opsin message were compared in retinas from normal moths, whose diets were fortified with carotenoid precursors of the Manduca rhodopsin chromophore, 3-hydroxyretinal, and those reared on carotenoid/retinoid (vitamin A) deficient diets. The chromophore-depleted retinas contained more opsin mRNA; this was particularly true for MANOP2. Thus, the chromophore is not required for opsin gene transcription in Manduca .
Thesis II: Human Systems-Mixed Methods

This proposal is an example of a post-structuralist research design that incorporates a mixed methodological approach that draws on both quantitative and qualitative data. Additionally, the proposal is a policy-oriented case study that effectively integrates fieldwork, content analysis, and government documents to explain and compare historical and contemporary policies in Malaysia. In particular, this proposal is effective as it examines the politics of scale and how the spatial practices and policies of stakeholders may alter the spatial dynamics of policy as planned and as implemented.
Developing telerobotic systems using virtual reality concepts

The basic operational scenario for many application domains is to deploy nonhuman system components in the hazardous workspace and keep the human operator away from the hazardous but real work environment. The operator is an essential element of the integrated system and is provided with various powerful displays (for both visual and nonvisual information) for telepresence and interactive controls for teleoperation. Thus, the operator stationed in the safe and virtual work environment, is able to cooperate with the robotic system in accomplishing an assigned task. The team has been investigating various problems associated with the use of virtual-reality based concepts in robot control and system development for the past several years. Some of the main ideas which underlie the investigations are, multiple sensory based operation, transparency between real and virtual mode operation, integrating sensing and task planning in simulation, and reliance on extensive and systematic experimental evaluation. The systems developed are useful for both off-online and online operation.
Perceptions of Criminal Injustice, Symbolic Racism, and Racial Politics:

This article examines the relationships between perceptions of criminal injustice, symbolic racism, and political outcomes. Building on a group conflict theory of social control and a group position theory of contemporary racism, the authors hypothesize that perceptions of criminal injustice against blacks undermines the legitimacy of social institutions, such as free markets and the legal system, and encourages support for progressive programs, such as affirmative action, to ameliorate the effects of racial discrimination. The authors further hypothesize that perceptions of criminal injustice undermine support for these progressive programs by fostering symbolic racist attitudes. Using data from the American National Election Studies, the authors find preliminary evidence for this perspective. Perceived police racial bias is negatively associated with symbolic racism, which, in turn, is negatively associated with affirmative action, equal opportunity policy, and government action to ensure equal opportun...
Use of policy, education, and enforcement to reduce binge drinking among university students: The NU Directions project

Abstract This paper describes a programme, conducted over a 5-year period, that effectively reduced heavy drinking and alcohol-related harms among university students. The programme was organised around strategies to change the environment in which binge drinking occurred and involved input and cooperation from officials and students of the university, representatives from the city and the neighbourhood near the university, law enforcement, as well as public health and medical officials. In 1997, 62.5% of the university's approximately 16,000 undergraduate student population reported binge drinking. This rate had dropped to 47% in 2003. Similar reductions were found in both self-reported primary and secondary harms related to alcohol consumption.
An FDD wideband CDMA MAC protocol for wireless multimedia networks

A medium access control (MAC) protocol is developed for wireless multimedia networks based on frequency division duplex (FDD) wideband code division multiple access (CDMA). In this protocol, the received power levels of simultaneously transmitting users are controlled by a minimum-power allocation algorithm such that the heterogeneous bit error rates (BERs) of multimedia traffic are guaranteed. With minimum-power allocation, a multimedia wideband CDMA generalized processor sharing (GPS) scheduling scheme is proposed. It provides fair queueing to multimedia traffic with different QoS constraints. It also takes into account the limited number of code channels for each user and the variable system capacity due to interference experienced by users in a CDMA network. The admission of real-time connections is determined by a new effective bandwidth connection admission control (CAC) algorithm in which the minimum-power allocation is also considered. Simulation results show that the new MAC protocol guarantees QoS requirements of both real-time and nonreal-time traffic in an FDD wideband CDMA network.
Cytosolic Calcium Wave Propagation Depends on Local Calcium Movement Inside Cardiac Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

The propagation of cytosolic Ca waves in cardiac myocytes is thought to occur through Ca-induced Ca release (CICR) with Ca being released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) via ryanodine receptors (RyR) activating neighboring RyRs and propagating throughout the cell. This widely accepted paradigm has recently been challenged by the hypothesis that an intra-SR ‘sensitization’ Ca wave precedes the cytosolic Ca wave and primes RyRs for activation by CICR (Keller et al., Cardiovasc. Res., 2007). Here we tested the intra-SR sensitization wave hypothesis by direct simultaneous measurements of cytosolic ([Ca]i) and intra-SR ([Ca]SR) calcium signals during wave propagation in intact and permeabilized rabbit ventricular myocytes. [Ca]i and [Ca]SR were measured with the fluorescent probes rhod-2 and fluo-5N, respectively, using high-speed confocal imaging. Our data show that the cytosolic Ca wave front and the corresponding intra-SR Ca depletion wave is preceded by a transient elevation of [Ca]SR. This transient elevation of [Ca]SR preceded the cytosolic wave front along the path of wave propagation and could be identified at individual release junctions with high-resolution imaging. Colliding waves that originated at separate subcellular locations annihilated as expected, however the preceding elevation of [Ca]SR of each wave resulted in a further increase of [Ca]SR at the site of collision. Increasing SR Ca load (beta-adrenergic stimulation) and SR Ca buffer capacity (with the exogenous Ca buffer ADA) enhanced Ca wave amplitude and [Ca]SR elevation preceding the wave. Furthermore, the cytosolic Ca wave front was preceded by a small transient decrease of [Ca]i that coincided with the transient elevation of [Ca]SR and possibly indicates the involvement of SERCA activity. These data suggest that local Ca movement inside the SR is a prerequisite for the propagation of spontaneous Ca waves in cardiac myocytes.
Leadership Studies of Chinese and Chinese-Americans

Chinese college students in Hong Kong and Chinese-American college students in Hawaii ranked a list of 9 issues of critical concern to them and their college in terms of their relative importance. These students then met in groups of 6 with a group leader who had been trained in authoritarian, democratic and laissez-faire leadership atmospheres and who utilized one of these conditions. The group was required to discuss the 9 issues and arrive at a group ranking. Finally, all subjects ranked the same issues individually a second time. Intercorrelations between group and final individual rankings were made. With Chinese subjects, it was found that authoritarian leadership produced a greater degree of cohesiveness of judgment than laissez-faire or democratic. Male leaders produced greater cohesiveness of group judgment than females. Emergent male leaders appeared in the female laissez-faire conditions but not when the laissez-faire leader was male. With Chinese-Americans, both democratic and authoritarian le...
Ethnicity Specific Norms and Alcohol Consumption Among Hispanic/Latino/a and Caucasian Students

Previous research has shown that social norms are among the strongest predictors of college student drinking and that normative misperceptions of more similar groups' drinking behavior may be more influential on individual drinking than those groups perceived to be more different. However, limited research has explored the moderating role of ethnicity in this context. The current study examined the differential impact that Hispanic/Latino/a and Caucasian students' normative perceptions of both typical and same-ethnicity college students' drinking behavior had on their own drinking. Participants (N=5,369 students; 60.4% female; 81.4% Caucasian; mean age 19.9years) from two colleges completed web-based surveys assessing their alcohol consumption, and their perceptions of the drinking behaviors of both the typical college student and the typical same race/ethnicity college student at their campus. Results demonstrated that perceived norms were significantly associated with likelihood of drinking regardless of race or ethnicity specificity, but that Hispanics/Latinos/as typically had weaker relationships between ethnicity-specific norms and drinking than general student norms and drinking. The opposite was true for Caucasians such that the relationship between same-race norms and drinking was stronger than the relationship between general student norms and drinking. Further, Hispanic/Latino/a students with high perceived norms were less likely to have consumed any alcohol than Caucasians with similar normative beliefs. Further, a campus site interaction suggests that the size of the minority population on campus relative to other students may influence the relationship between norms and drinking. Implications and targets for future investigation are discussed. Language: en
Statistical Models for Exploring Individual Email Communication Behavior

As digital communication devices play an increasingly prominent role in our daily lives, the ability to analyze and understand our communication patterns becomes more important. In this paper, we investigate a latent variable modeling approach for extracting information from individual email histories, focusing in particular on understanding how an individual communicates over time with recipients in their social network. The proposed model consists of latent groups of recipients, each of which is associated with a piecewise-constant Poisson rate over time. Inference of group memberships, temporal changepoints, and rate parameters is carried out via Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. We illustrate the utility of the model by applying it to both simulated and real-world email data sets.
Role of Radiation Therapy in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in the Child

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is not a single disease entity, but a heterogeneous collection of neoplasms of lymphoreticular cell origin which can be classified on the basis of clinical features, histopathologic features, and immunophenotype. It shares few features with the majority of NHLs seen in adults and is much more closely related to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The identification of the similarities between childhood NHL and childhood ALL led to the application of systemic antileukemic chemotherapy in an attempt to reduce the incidence of distant dissemination. Today, systemic chemotherapy is the mainstay of therapy for children with NHL. The role of radiation therapy in the primary management of childhood NHL has changed over the past 5–10 years such that there are now specific indications for its use in the management of a child afflicted with NHL. It is for this reason that it is important to review briefly the important aspects of clinical presentation, histopathological features, workup, and staging. Without an understanding of these aspects of management, appropriate treatment will not be delivered.
Nature’s Witness: Allegory and Sensation in Leconte de Lisle’s Animal Poems

This article offers the first ecocritical approach to Leconte de Lisle’s body of animal poems in the Poemes babares and the Poemes tragiques. I argue for a reassessment of this Parnassian poet that acknowledges the novelty and biocentrism of his animal poems. These contribute to modern ‘wilderness’ mythology, but also avoid its pitfalls (the romanticization of the human encounter with wilderness) by radically erasing any human witness from the scene. Leconte de Lisle’s animals cease to present allegories of human types or autobiographical projections of the artist’s temperament; instead, the creatures and landscapes in these poems exist on their own, and attain an expressivity not indexed to any human structures of meaning. An alien subjectivity emerges in place of human consciousness that, while irreducible to the animal’s unknowable perceptions, builds on the vigilant ‘attentiveness’ manifested in various ways by the vast array of living forms embedded in nature.