cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conducting MWNT/poly(vinyl acetate) composite nanofibres by electrospinning

Electrospinning is a relatively simple and versatile method to produce polymer nanofibres and their composites. In this work, functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (f-MWNTs) were used for the fabrication of conducting nanocomposite fibres, in comparison with the composite nanofibres made of unfunctionalized MWNTs (u-MWNTs). Our results showed that the addition of f-MWNTs could improve the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in the polymer solution and therefore result in composite nanofibres with uniform diameters by electrospinning. Alignment of the composite nanofibres was achieved by using a rotating drum as the collector. F-MWNTs were found to align parallel to the axis direction of the nanofibres. DC electrical properties of a single composite fibre were investigated at room temperature as well as cryogenic states (100-300 K). An electrical percolation phenomenon was observed for nanofibres with different mass fractions of MWNTs. It was shown that the conductivity of the material could be significantly improved above the percolation threshold. The conductivity could be of several orders of magnitude higher than the pure PVAc.
The Need for Standardization in Laboratory Networks

Expanding health care services for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria has increased the demand for affordable and reliable laboratory diagnostics in resource-limited countries. Many countries are responding by upgrading their public laboratories and introducing new technology to provide expanded testing services into more regions. This expansion carries the risk of increasing the diversity of an already highly diverse technology and testing platform landscape, making it more difficult to manage laboratory networks across different levels of the health care system. To prevent this trend, countries are recommended to implement policies and guidelines that standardize test menus, technology, platforms, and commodities across multiple laboratories. The benefits of standardization include rational prioritization of resources for capacity development and more efficient supply chain management through volume-based price discounts for reagents and instrument service. Procurement procedures, including specification, prequalification, and contract negotiation, need to align with the standardization policies for maximum benefit. Standardization should be adhered to irrespective of whether procurement is centralized or decentralized or whether carried out by national bodies or development partners.
High dispersion of ventricular repolarization after an implantable defibrillator shock predicts induction of ventricular fibrillation as well as unsuccessful defibrillation

Abstract OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that post-shock dispersion of repolarization (PSDR) is higher in T wave shocks that induce ventricular fibrillation (VF) than in those that do not, as well as in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) defibrillation shocks which fail to terminate VF when compared with those that are successful. BACKGROUND Ventricular fibrillation has been linked to the presence of dispersion of repolarization, which facilitates reentry. Most of the studies have been done in animals, and the mechanism underlying the generation and termination of VF in humans is speculative and remains to be determined. METHODS Monophasic action potentials (MAPs) were recorded simultaneously from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and the right ventricular apex (RVA) in 27 patients who underwent implantation and testing of an ICD. T wave shocks were used to induce VF while the termination was attempted using internal defibrillator shocks. The post-shock repolarization time (PSRT) was measured in both the RVA and RVOT MAPs, and the difference between the two recordings was defined as the PSDR. The averages of PSDR were compared between the successful and unsuccessful inductions and terminations of VF. RESULTS T wave shocks that induced VF generated a greater PSDR (93.4 ± 85.1 ms) than the unsuccessful ones (45.1 ± 55.9 ms, p CONCLUSIONS A high PSDR following a T wave shock is associated with induction of VF; while following a defibrillating shock, it is associated with its failure and the continuation of VF. Conversely, a low PSDR is associated with failure of a T wave shock to induce VF and successful termination of VF by a defibrillating shock.
Performance of a Parallel Global Atmospheric Chemical Tracer Model

As partof a NASA HPCC Grand Challenge project, we are designing and implementing a parallel atmospheric chemical tracer model that will be suitable for use in global simulations. To accomplish this goal, our starting point has been an atmospheric pollution model that was originally used to study pollution in the Los Angeles Basin. The model includes gas-phase and aqueous-phase chemistry, radiation, aerosol physics, advection, convection, deposition, visibility and emissions. The potential bottlenecks in the model for parallel implementation are the compute-intensiveODE solving phase with load balancing problems,and the communication-intensive-advection phase. We describe the implementation and performance results on a variety of platforms,with emphasis on a detailed performance model we developed to predict performance, identify bottlenecks, guide our implementation, assess scalability, and evaluate architectures. An atmospheric chemical tracer model such as the one we describe in this paper will be one component of a larger Earth Systems Model (ESM), being developed under the direction of C. R. Mechoso of UCLA, incorporating atmospheric dynamics, atmospheric physics, ocean dynamics, and a database and visualization system.
Design and testing of polysilicon surface-micromachined piston micromirror arrays

THis paper presents optical testing of polysilicon surface micromachined piston micromirror arrays. Similar piston micromirror arrays were fabricated using two different commercially available surface micromachining foundry processes: the DARPA supported multi-user MEMS processes (MUMPs), and Sandia Ultra-planar Multi-level MEMS Technology (SUMMiT). All test arrays employ square reflecting elements in an 8 X 8 element 203 micrometers square grid. Fabrication constraints limit the MUMPs designs to fill-factors of less than 80 percent. The chemical mechanical polishing planarization step integral to the SUMMiT process allows an as-drawn fill-factor of 95 percent to be easily achieved. MUMPs designs employ both the standard gold metallization and maskless sputtered chromium/gold post-process metallization, while post process metallization is the only option for the SUMMiT design. Testing of the micromirror arrays focuses on microscope interferometer characterization of mirror topography, and measurement of the far field diffraction pattern for each. The measured results show that control of the individual micromirror element surface topography is more important for imaging applications than maximizing the as-drawn fill-factor.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Electrostatic field around cytochrome c: theory and energy transfer experiment.

Abstract Energy transfer in the "rapid diffusion" limit from electronically excited terbium(III) chelates in three different charge states to horse heart ferricytochrome c was measured as a function of ionic strength. Theoretical rate constants calculated by numerical integration of the Forster integral (containing the Poisson-Boltzmann-generated protein electrostatic potential) were compared with the experimental data to evaluate the accuracy of protein electrostatic field calculations at the protein/solvent interface. Two dielectric formalisms were used: a simple coulombic/Debye-Huckel procedure and a finite difference method [Warwicker, J. & Watson, H. C. (1982) J. Mol. Biol. 157, 671-679] that accounts for the low-dielectric protein interior and the irregular protein/solvent boundary. Good agreement with experiment was obtained and the ionic-strength dependence of the reaction was successfully reproduced. The sensitivity of theoretical rate constants to the choices of effective donor sphere size and the energy transfer distance criterion was analyzed. Electrostatic potential and rate-constant calculations were carried out on sets of structures collected along two molecular dynamics trajectories of cytochrome c. Protein conformational fluctuations were shown to produce large variations in the calculated energy transfer rate constant. We conclude that protein fluctuations and the resulting transient structures can play significant roles in biological or catalytic activities that are not apparent from examination of a static structure. For calculating protein electrostatics, large-scale low-frequency conformational fluctuations, such as charged side-chain reorientation, are established to be as important as the computational method for incorporating dielectric boundary effects.
Serologic and hexon phylogenetic analysis of ruminant adenoviruses

The objectives of this study were to determine the antigenic relationship among ruminant adenoviruses and determine their phylogenetic relationship based on the deduced hexon gene amino acid sequence. Results of reciprocal cross-neutralization tests demonstrated antigenic relationships in either one or both directions among bovine adenovirus type 6 (BAdV-6), BAdV-7, ovine adenovirus type 7 (OAdV-7), caprine adenovirus type 1 (GAdV-1), and deer adenovirus (Odocoileus adenovirus 1, OdAdV-1). No antigenic cross-reactivity was observed among BAdV-1 through -5, and -8 and the other putative ruminant adenoviruses. Two PCR primer sets, one for mastadenovirus and atadenovirus that amplified an approximately 2,700-bp region in the hexon genes were used for comparative studies. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced hexon amino acid sequences clustered the ruminant adenoviruses on the Mastadenovirus and Atadenovirus genus branches of the Adenoviridae tree. The recent classification of BAdV-6, and -7 as members of the genus Atadenovirus was supported by phylogenetic distance matrix analysis of their deduced hexon amino acid sequences. Further, we propose that BAdV-6 and -7 be recognized as members of new Atadenovirus species, Bovine adenovirus E and Bovine adenovirus F, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of OdAdV-1 places this virus in the genus Atadenovirus with a proposed new species Odocoileus adenovirus A. OAdV-6 and GAdV-2 are proposed as members of new Mastadenovirus species Ovine adenovirus C and Goat adenovirus A, respectively.
Nonlinear control systems with random inputs

The describing-function method for the analysis of nonlinear systems with sinusoidal inputs is interpreted as a mean-square quasi-linearization technique and is generalized to apply to random signals. An amplitude-sensitive (or zero-memory) nonlinearity is interpreted as being approximately equivalent to a linear frequency-insensitive device, and a formula is derived for its equivalent gain. A simple rate-limited control system with a Gaussian input is analyzed as a specific application. Approximation of a general nonlinear element (containing memory) is considered next, and a relation between equivalent-system impulse response and the response of the actual nonlinearity is derived.
Metabolic Reprogramming and Inflammation Act in Concert to Control Vascular Remodeling in Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex, multifactorial syndrome that remains poorly understood despite decades of research. PH is characterized by profound pulmonary artery (PA) remodeling that includes significant fibro-proliferative and inflammatory changes of the PA adventitia. In line with the emerging concept that PH shares key features with cancer, recent work centers on the idea that PH results from a multistep process driven by reprogramming of gene-expression patterns that govern changes in cell metabolism, inflammation, and proliferation. Data demonstrate that in addition to PA endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, adventitial fibroblasts from animals with experimental hypoxic PH and from humans with PH (hereafter, termed PH-Fibs) exhibit proinflammatory activation, increased proliferation, and apoptosis resistance, all in the context of metabolic reprogramming to aerobic glycolysis. PH-Fibs can also recruit, retain, and activate naive macrophages (Mϕ) toward a proinflammatory/proremodeling phenotype through secretion of chemokines, cytokines, and glycolytic metabolites, among which IL-6 and lactate play key roles. Furthermore, these fibroblast-activated Mϕ (hereafter, termed FAMϕ) exhibit aerobic glycolysis together with high expression of arginase 1, Vegfa, and I1lb, all of which require hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and STAT3 signaling. Strikingly, in situ, the adventitial Mϕ phenotype in the remodeled PA closely resembles the Mϕ phenotype induced by fibroblasts in vitro (FAMϕ), suggesting that FAMϕ crosstalk involving metabolic and inflammatory signals is a critical, pathogenetic component of vascular remodeling. This review discusses metabolic and inflammatory changes in fibroblasts and Mϕ in PH with the goal of raising ideas about new interventions to abrogate remodeling in hypoxic forms of PH.
Improved Infrared Response Measurements in Semiconductor Nuclear Radiation Detectors

An infrared response technique has been developed wnich has been shown to yield more detailed spectra than previous techniques and which can be used to identify more specifically energy levels arising from unwanted impurities and defects in semiconductor diodes used as nuclear radiation detectors. The presence of known impurities in germanium detectors, both lithium-compensated and high purity (uncompensated), has been confirmed using this technique. Such impurities include copper, gold, and iron. Features in the spectra associated with crystalline defects have also been identified.
Bisphosphonates do not reduce breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Source Citation Hue TF, Cummings SR, Cauley JA, et al. Effect of bisphosphonate use on risk of postmenopausal breast cancer: results from the randomized clinical trials of alendronate and zoledroni...
Quartz and graphite filament reinforced polymer composites for orthopedic surgical application.

Materials conventionally used for orthopedic surgical implants are primarily metallic alloys such as stainless steel 316L, Cr-Co-Mo alloys and recently titanium and Ti-6A1-4V alloy. Modulus of elasticity of these (E = 15 to 30 × 106 psi) is an order of magnitude higher than that of bone (approximately 3 × 106 psi). Quartz filament reinforced composites were formulated with E = 6 × 106 psi and flexural stress at rupture (modulus of rupture) of approximately 200,000 psi. Similarly graphite filament reinforced epoxy composites were formulated with E = 16 × 106 psi and flexural stress at rupture (modulus of rupture) of approximately 200,000 psi. Specimens of these materials were implanted in white rats subcutaneously. At sacrifice 90 days after implantation there was no evidence of any inflammatory process, although the implants were completely encapsulated. (Similar in vivo compatibility tests in rabbit muscle tissue are currently in progress.) No significant changes in mechanical properties could be measured in the implants after the 90-day period of implantation. By adjusting the volume fraction of fibers in a given composite, the modulus of elasticity can be adjusted (with concomittant variations in strength) to meet the biomechanical and dynamic requirements of the appliance. A continuing program to investigate other biocompatible resins and other reinforcement is planned.
Star counts as an indicator of galactic structure and quasar evolution

A detailed model of the stellar content of the Galaxy is described briefly. Illustrative applications of the model are made, using existing data, to indicate how star counts can be used to determine some parameters of galactic structure, to detect a massive (stellar) halo, and to constrain models of quasar evolution.
Noise Properties of Rectifying Nanopores

Ion currents through three types of rectifying nanoporous structures are studied and compared: conically shaped polymer nanopores, glass nanopipettes, and silicon nitride nanopores. Time signals of ion currents are analyzed by the power spectrum. We focus on the low-frequency range where the power spectrum magnitude scales with frequency, f, as 1/f. Glass nanopipettes and polymer nanopores exhibit nonequilibrium 1/f noise; thus, the normalized power spectrum depends on the voltage polarity and magnitude. In contrast, 1/f noise in rectifying silicon nitride nanopores is of equilibrium character. Various mechanisms underlying the voltage-dependent 1/f noise are explored and discussed, including intrinsic pore wall dynamics and formation of vortices and nonlinear flow patterns in the pore. Experimental data are supported by modeling of ion currents based on the coupled Poisson−Nernst−Planck and Navier−Stokes equations. We conclude that the voltage-dependent 1/f noise observed in polymer and glass asymmetric ...
A Stochastic Goal Program for Employee Scheduling

Deterministic goal programs for employee scheduling decisions attempt to minimize expected operating costs by assigning the ideal number of employees to each feasible schedule. For each period in the planning horizon, managers must first determine the amount of labor that should be scheduled for duty. These requirements are often established with marginal analysis techniques, which use estimates for incremental labor costs and shortage expenses. Typically, each period in the planning horizon is evaluated as an independent epoch. An implicit assumption is that individual employees can be assigned to schedules with as little as a single period of work. If this assumption violates local work rules, the labor requirements parameters for the deterministic goal program may be suboptimal. As we show in this research, this well-known limitation can lead to costly staffing and scheduling errors. We propose an employee scheduling model that overcomes this limitation by integrating the labor requirements and scheduling decisions. Instead of a single, externally determined staffing goal for each period, the model uses a probability distribution for the quantity of labor required. The model is free to choose an appropriate staffing level for each period, eliminating the need for a separate goal-setting procedure. In most cases this results in better, less costly decisions. In addition, the proposed model easily accommodates both linear and nonlinear under- and overstaffing penalties. We use simple examples to demonstrate many of these advantages and to illustrate the key techniques necessary to implement our model. We also assess its performance in a study of more than 1,700 simulated stochastic employee scheduling problems.
Hormone-mediated translational control of protein synthesis in cultured cells of Glycine max

Abstract Proliferative growth in cultured soybean cells ( Glycine max cv. Sodifuri, of cotyledenary origin) is regulated to a substantial degree by the plant hormone, cytokinin. Previously we reported that stationary phase soybean cells exhibit a rapid increase in polyribosome formation upon transfer to fresh cytokinin-containing medium. Cytokinin plays a significant role in this expansion of the cell's protein synthetic capacity through a heretofore unidentified effect on protein synthesis at the translational level. The present study was undertaken to identify the deficiency in the translational process of stationary phase cells which is overcome by cytokinin treatment. We have demonstrated that cytokinin-induced polyribosome formation was brought about by the recruitment of existing monoribosomes into polyribosomal aggregates. Three hours of cytokinin stimulation nearly doubled the total amount of [ 3 H]leucine incorporated into nascent polypeptides. Average polyribosome size was nearly identical in stationary phase cells and in cells which were induced to grow by cytokinin. Cytokinin-enhanced protein synthetic capacity was not accompanied by changes in polypeptide chain elongation or termination rates. Partial cycloheximide inhibition of elongation was used to demonstrate that initiation of polypeptide synthesis was limiting to a slight degree both before and after cytokinin stimulation. These results suggest that cytokinin stimulates protein synthesis by making more message available for translation. We obtained direct evidence to support this hypothesis by showing that labeled poly(A)-containing, nonpolyribosomal RNA, which was synthesized during stationary phase but not translated, moves into polyribosomes upon cytokinin treatment.
CAPER Is Vital for Energy and Redox Homeostasis by Integrating Glucose-Induced Mitochondrial Functions via ERR-α-Gabpa and Stress-Induced Adaptive Responses via NF-κB-cMYC

Ever since we developed mitochondria to generate ATP, eukaryotes required intimate mito-nuclear communication. In addition, since reactive oxygen species are a cost of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, this demands safeguards as protection from these harmful byproducts. Here we identified a critical transcriptional integrator which eukaryotes share to orchestrate both nutrient-induced mitochondrial energy metabolism and stress-induced nuclear responses, thereby maintaining carbon-nitrogen balance, and preserving life span and reproductive capacity. Inhibition of nutrient-induced expression of CAPER arrests nutrient-dependent cell proliferation and ATP generation and induces autophagy-mediated vacuolization. Nutrient signaling to CAPER induces mitochondrial transcription and glucose-dependent mitochondrial respiration via coactivation of nuclear receptor ERR-α-mediated Gabpa transcription. CAPER is also a coactivator for NF-κB that directly regulates c-Myc to coordinate nuclear transcriptome responses to mitochondrial stress. Finally, CAPER is responsible for anaplerotic carbon flux into TCA cycles from glycolysis, amino acids and fatty acids in order to maintain cellular energy metabolism to counter mitochondrial stress. Collectively, our studies reveal CAPER as an evolutionarily conserved ‘master’ regulatory mechanism by which eukaryotic cells control vital homeostasis for both ATP and antioxidants via CAPER-dependent coordinated control of nuclear and mitochondrial transcriptomic programs and their metabolisms. These CAPER dependent bioenergetic programs are highly conserved, as we demonstrated that they are essential to preserving life span and reproductive capacity in human cells—and even in C. elegans.
Engineering for problems of excess

Engineering is often concerned with solving problems and creating solutions to challenges faced by humanity. Engineering approaches that were central to improving life in past centuries dealt with problems of scarcity: how to grow more food, how to allow greater communication among people, how to transport goods more quickly, or how to generate more power. As evidenced by the industrial revolution, the green revolution, and the information revolution, these purely technical approaches to engineering have transformed the world. The engineering successes of past centuries, however, have given rise to new engineering challenges that are not just technical but sociotechnical in scope. These new challenges are problems of excess rather than of scarcity---problems such as obesity, information overload, and climate change. People's behaviors are critical in large-scale sociotechnical systems and engineers must necessarily consider interactions between people and technical systems when considering these problems. Since engineering designs for problems of excess require consideration and potential modification of human behavior, they may appear to be dehumanizing and mechanistic. Drawing on the biomedical ethics framework of Beauchamp and Childress, we discuss several technologies for addressing problems of excess in terms of beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice.
Kinematics and Statics of Cooperative Multi-Robot Aerial Manipulation With Cables

This paper addresses the forward and inverse kinematics of payloads carried by aerial robots. We address the cases with one, two, and three aerial robots and derive the kinematics and conditions for stable static equilibrium. For the case with one or two robots, we can establish the maximum number of equilibrium positions. The three-robot case is seen to be much harder primarily because of the non-negative tension constraints. We restrict the set of possible solutions to the forward and inverse problems by considering the equations of static equilibrium and kinematic constraints. Analytic and numeric methods to determine equilibrium configurations and stability are presented.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Adsorption isotherm sensitivity to small changes in zeolite structure

Abstract Grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations of benzene adsorption in different ortho silicalite structures are analyzed to determine the origin of a surprising factor of 3.1 difference in the Henry's law constants. Results indicate that changes of only tenths of angstrom in the lattice oxygen atom positions can reposition the sorbates enough to sizably affect the electrostatics. The small shifts are magnified by the partial cancellation of large electrostatics terms on the hydrogen and carbon atoms. These results underscore the need for potential models that include lattice flexibility and polarizability when the sorbates are tightly fitting, as well as accurate crystallographic structures.
Beam formation in anisotropic structures

A localized source radiating in anisotropic environment with directionally dependent attenuation produces a beam. The direction and width of this beam are calculated asymptotically.
Prolonged Attenuation of the Reinforcing Strength of Cocaine by Chronic d -Amphetamine in Rhesus Monkeys

Chronic treatment with the indirect dopamine agonist d-amphetamine can reduce cocaine use in clinical trials and, in preclinical studies in laboratory animals, attenuates daily cocaine self-administration. The present study extended previous results to conditions designed to reflect a more clinically relevant experience of cocaine exposure and d-amphetamine treatment. Each morning, monkeys pressed a lever to receive food pellets under a 50-response fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement. After determining a dose-response curve for cocaine (0.003–0.56 mg/kg per injection, i.v.) under a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement in the evening, cocaine self-administration sessions were suspended and d-amphetamine (0.01–0.056 mg/kg/h, i.v.) was administered continuously for at least 24 days, except during cocaine self-administration sessions, which were conducted using the PR schedule once every 8 days. When a persistent decrease in self-administration was observed, the cocaine dose-effect curve was redetermined. Cocaine- and food-maintained responding were also examined after discontinuation of d-amphetamine. Although individual differences in sensitivity were observed, d-amphetamine produced selective, qualitatively similar decreases in the reinforcing strength of cocaine in all monkeys that persisted at least 4 weeks. Moreover, cocaine dose-effect curves were shifted downward and/or to the right. For 2 weeks following discontinuation of d-amphetamine treatment, the reinforcing strength of cocaine varied within and across individuals, however, on the whole no increased sensitivity was apparent. These data provide further support for the use of agonist medications for cocaine abuse, and extend the conditions under which such treatment is successful to those that incorporate clinically relevant patterns of cocaine use and drug treatment.
Sequence analysis of a glycoprotein D gene homolog within the unique short segment of the EHV-1 genome.

Abstract DNA sequence analysis of one-third of the unique short (Us) segment of the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) genome revealed an open reading frame (ORF) whose translated sequence exhibits significant homology to glycoprotein D of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 and to pseudorabies virus (PRV) glycoprotein 50, the gD equivalent. The ORF of the EHV-1 gD homolog lies within the pSZ-4 BamHI/lKpnl fragment (map units 0.865 to 0.872 and 0.869 to 0.884) and is capable of encoding a polypeptide of 385 amino acids (43,206 molecular weight). Analysis of the nucleotide sequence revealed a complete transcriptional unit including CAAT and TATA elements and signals for polyadenylation. The predicted protein exhibits features typical of a transmembrane protein: a hydrophobic N-terminal signal sequence followed by a probable cleavage site, four potential Winked glycosylation sites, and a hydrophobic membrane-spanning domain near the carboxyl terminus followed by a charged membrane anchor sequence.
Health-Related Quality of Life After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Inoperable Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis

Background—Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been shown to improve survival compared with standard therapy in patients with severe aortic stenosis who cannot have surgery. The effects of TAVR on health-related quality of life have not been reported from a controlled study. Methods and Results—The Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) trial randomized patients with symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis who were not candidates for surgical valve replacement to TAVR (n=179) or standard therapy (n=179). Health-related quality of life was assessed at baseline and at 1, 6, and 12 months with the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and the 12-item Short Form-12 General Health Survey (SF-12). The primary end point was the KCCQ overall summary score (range, 0–100; higher=better). At baseline, mean KCCQ summary scores (35±20) and SF-12 physical summary scores (28±7) were markedly depressed. Although the KCCQ summary score improved from baseline in both groups, the extent of im...
Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training for Young Adults with High-Functioning Autism

Few evidence-based social interventions exist for young adults with high-functioning autism, many of whom encounter significant challenges during the transition into adulthood. The current study investigated the feasibility of an engaging Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training intervention focused on enhancing social skills, social cognition, and social functioning. Eight young adults diagnosed with high-functioning autism completed 10 sessions across 5 weeks. Significant increases on social cognitive measures of theory of mind and emotion recognition, as well as in real life social and occupational functioning were found post-training. These findings suggest that the virtual reality platform is a promising tool for improving social skills, cognition, and functioning in autism.
Incorporating indigenous rights and environmental justice into fishery management: comparing policy challenges and potentials from Alaska and Hawai'i

Colonial processes including the dispossession of indigenous lands and resources and the development of Western management institutions to govern the use of culturally important fish resources have served in many ways to marginalize indigenous interests within the United States fisheries. In recent years, several US fishery institutions have begun to develop policies that can confront this colonial legacy by better accommodating indigenous perspectives and rights in fishery management practices. This paper analyzes two such policies: the 2005 community quota entity program in Alaska which permits rural communities (predominantly Alaska Native villages) to purchase and lease commercial halibut fishing privileges and the 1994 State of Hawai'i community-based subsistence fishing area (CBSFA) legislation through which Native Hawaiian communities can designate marine space near their community as CBSFAs and collaborate with the state of Hawai'i to manage those areas according to traditional Hawaiian practices. The analysis reveals a striking similarity between the trajectories of these two policies. While they both offered significant potential for incorporating indigenous rights and environmental justice into state or federal fishery management, they have so far largely failed to do so. Environmental managers can gain insights from the challenges and potentials of these two policies. In order to introduce meaningful change, environmental policies that incorporate indigenous rights and environmental justice require a commitment of financial and institutional support from natural resource agencies, a commitment from indigenous groups and communities to organize and develop capacity, and careful consideration of contextual and cultural factors in the design of the policy framework.
Reconstitution of a chloride-translocating ATPase from Aplysia californica gut.

Abstract Basolateral membranes of Aplysia foregut epithella contain both a Cl−-stimulated ATPase activity and an ATP-dependent Cl− transport. The protein responsible for both of these biochemical activities (Cl− pump) can be solubilized and reconstituted into liposomes with the aid of the detergent digitonin. Proteoliposomal Cl− pump activity was inhibited by vanadate.
Representing Personal Determinants in Causal Structures.

L'auteur repond aux critiques de Staddon (1984) et a sa presentation d'un modele formel d'analyse des interactions sociales, en contestant la reduction des determinants cognitifs aux stimuli anterieurs
Empirical evaluation of multi-level buffer cache collaboration for storage systems

To bridge the increasing processor-disk performance gap, buffer caches are used in both storage clients (e.g. database systems) and storage servers to reduce the number of slow disk accesses. These buffer caches need to be managed effectively to deliver the performance commensurate to the aggregate buffer cache size. To address this problem, two paradigms have been proposed recently to collaboratively manage these buffer caches together: the hierarchy-aware caching maintains the same I/O interface and is fully transparent to the storage client software, and the aggressively-collaborative caching trades off transparency for performance and requires changes to both the interface and the storage client software. Before storage industry starts to implement collaborative caching in real systems, it is crucial to find out whether sacrificing transparency is really worthwhile, i.e., how much can we gain by using the aggressively-collaborative caching instead of the hierarchy-aware caching? To accurately answer this question, it is required to consider all possible combinations of recently proposed local replacement algorithms and optimization techniques in both collaboration paradigms.Our study provides an empirical evaluation to address the above questions. Particularly, we have compared three aggressively-collaborative approaches with two hierarchy-aware approaches for four different types of database/file I/O workloads using traces collected from real commercial systems such as IBM DB2. More importantly, we separate the effects of collaborative caching from local replacement algorithms and optimizations, and uniformly apply several recently proposed local replacement algorithms and optimizations to all five collaboration approaches.When appropriate local optimizations and replacement algorithms are uniformly applied to both hierarchy-aware and aggressively-collaborative caching, the results indicate that hierarchy-aware caching can deliver similar performance as aggressively-collaborative caching. The results show that the aggressively-collaborative caching only provides less than 2.5% performance improvement on average in simulation and 1.0% in real system experiments over the hierarchy-aware caching for most workloads and cache configurations. Our sensitivity study indicates that the performance gain of aggressively-collaborative caching is also very small for various storage networks and different cache configurations. Therefore, considering its simplicity and generality, hierarchy-aware caching is more feasible than aggressively-collaborative caching.
Bound by Struggle: The Strategic Evolution of Enduring International Rivalries

Bound by Struggle: The Strategic Evolution of Enduring International Rivalries. By Zeev Maoz and Ben D. Mor. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2002. 368p. $60.00. One of the most intriguing empirical facts about international conflict is that a vast majority of militarized disputes and wars occur within a very small subset of pairs of states. Scholars have noted the very intense nature of relations within these dyads—dubbed rivalries—and have provided numerous studies of what causes the frequent conflicts between them. In this book, Zeev Maoz and Ben D. Mor move away from this segment of the literature by treating rivalries, not the conflicts that occur within them, as the unit of analysis. They provide a study of how rivalries start, develop, and terminate, using an evolutionary model of interstate relations. This analytical orientation provides the basis for an ambitious, thorough, and complex portrayal of rivalry development.
Evaluation of Methods for Quantitative Analysis of Halloysite-Kaolinite Clays

A number of methods were tested for their applicability to the problem of determining the content of halloysite in kaolin clays. These analytical methods included the thin-section point-count technique, base-exchange determinations, electron microscope techniques and infra-red absorption spectra differences.
Preparation, characterization, and kinetic evaluation of dendrimer-derived bimetallic Pt–Ru/SiO2 catalysts

Abstract A series of silica-supported Pt, Ru, and Pt–Ru catalysts has been synthesized using dendrimer–metal nanocomposite (DMN) precursors prepared by both co- and sequential complexation with metal salts. The catalysts have been characterized by several techniques, including electron microscopy, temperature-programmed titration of adsorbed oxygen, and X-ray diffraction. Liquid-phase selective hydrogenation of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (EpB) was used as a probe reaction to evaluate their catalytic performance. The bimetallic catalyst prepared by the co-complexation method exhibits a superior catalytic activity compared to the sequential one, and is much more active than a conventional catalyst prepared by incipient wetness. The activity enhancement is attributed to a bifunctional performance of the PtRu alloy sites created, based on a strong correlation between turnover frequencies, and both the alloy compositions and metal surface site distributions. In addition, the co-complexation catalyst is selective toward crotonaldehyde, suggesting that this reaction pathway is favored on the PtRu sites.
Esophageal resection for carcinoma in patients older than 70 years.

A larger number of older patients are presenting as candidates for esophageal resection. An aggressive surgical approach in this population is controversial. Four hundred thirteen patients with esophageal cancer who presented to Roswell Park Cancer Institute from 1991 to 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data, perioperative details, and postoperative courses were compared for patients older and younger than 70 years. One hundred forty-seven patients (36%) were older than 70 years. Risk factors, clinical symptoms, histology, and stage at presentation were equivalent for both age groups. A higher percentage of patients 70 years. In conclusion, esophageal cancer in older patients warrants surgical resection because the benefit to the patient is the same as it is for younger patients, without a significant increase in operative morbidity or mortality.
Do tax decision support systems affect the accuracy of tax compliance decisions

Abstract Tax complexity has increased over the years as laws and regulations have been consistently added to the existing code sections. This complexity directly affects taxpayer compliance; complexity reduces taxpayer compliance. Along with the rise in complexity has come an increased use of tax preparation software such as TurboTax to combat the rising intricacy. This software is designed to help users properly complete a tax return and, as a result, increase taxpayer compliance. These software packages represent sophisticated tax decision support systems (TDSS) used by both professional tax preparers and individual taxpayers alike. While the availability and use has risen dramatically over the past few years, little research has been conducted to determine the impact of TDSS on tax preparers' decisions. The purpose of this study is to examine whether tax preparers manually preparing a tax return make the same decisions as tax preparers aided by a TDSS. The Theory of Technology Dominance suggests (1) that less experienced users will not be able to adequately use the TDSS and will make inferior decisions when compared to more experienced users and (2) that more experienced decision-makers using a TDSS will make better decisions than their counterparts preparing a return manually. The results support the propositions of the theory and show that less experienced tax preparers using a TDSS make inferior decisions when compared to more experienced tax preparers. The less experienced tax preparers report higher taxable income and higher tax liability. The results also indicate that using a TDSS can help both experienced and novice tax preparers make better decisions even though the novices cannot perform at the level of experienced tax preparers. This study concludes tax compliance is improved with the use of a TDSS.
Parent and patient perspectives on barriers to medication adherence in adolescent transplant recipients

The aim of this study was to identify barriers to medication adherence in adolescent transplant recipients. Eighty adolescent transplant recipient families reported in an open-ended manner about barriers to medication adherence. These responses were then coded to reflect potentially important themes associated with medication adherence. The themes derived included: forgot/distracted, poor planning/scheduling issues, physical barriers/medication issues, and voluntary resistance/attempts to be normal. Inter-rater reliability for barrier coding was very high (k = 0.91). Patients who were classified as non-adherent reported significantly more overall barriers, more forgot/distracted barriers, and more voluntary resistance/attempts to be normal barriers than those classified as adherent. Non-adherence was also found to be more likely when adolescents, as opposed to parents, were responsible for administering the medication. Further, non-adherence was more likely when taking morning rather than evening doses. These findings are explained with an emphasis on potential remedies that directly address the stated barriers.
Determination of local composition by lattice imaging

An assessment is made of the potential for direct lattice imaging to be used for the determination of local chemical composition in alloys by localized lattice parameter measurements. The principle involves correlation of electron microscopy lattice fringe image spacings with composition. It is found that in favorable circumstances (e.g., Fe-C, Al-Cu, Au-Ni) composition differences of the order of 3 pct can be detected with a resolution of 20A. In addition the results indicate that for many cases the method both has higher resolution and is more precise than currently available, alternative analytical techniques. Whilst the results are very encouraging, the role of electron optical and lattice constraint effects must be examined in more detail to allow general application of the method, especially for the case of multiphase systems involving large interfacial strains
Regional Anesthesia and Anticoagulation in Patients undergoing Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery

Spinal hematoma is a rare and potentially catastrophic complication of spinal or epidural anesthesia. The decision to perform spinal or epidural anesthesia or analgesia and the timing of catheter removal in a patient receiving antithrombotic therapy should be made on an individual basis, weighing the small, though definite risk of spinal hematoma with the benefits of regional anesthesia for a specific patient. Alternative anesthetic and analgesic techniques exist for patients considered an unacceptable risk. The patient's coagulation status should be optimized at the time the spinal or epidural needle or catheter is placed, and the level of anticoagulation must be carefully monitored during the period of epidural catheterization. Indwelling catheters should not be removed in the presence of therapeutic anticoagulation, as this appears to significantly increase the risk of spinal hematoma. Vigilance in monitoring is critical to allow early evaluation of neurologic dysfunction and prompt intervention.
A mouse model of resistance to thyroid hormone produced by somatic gene transfer of a mutant thyroid hormone receptor.

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a dominantly inherited syndrome characterized by hyposensitivity to thyroid hormone caused by mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor-beta (TR beta) gene. Replication-defective recombinant adenoviruses were constructed that express the human wild-type (WT) TR beta, a human mutant TR beta identified in a family with RTH, and luciferase under the control of thyroid hormone (Luc). The efficient introduction and expression of these recombinant genes into adult mouse liver were confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Hypothyroid mice were infected with Luc alone and in combination with the WT TR beta or mutant TR beta. Half of the mice from each group were then treated with T3. Compared with mice infected with Luc alone, T3 treatment of mutant TR beta infected mice showed no changes in liver luciferase, weight, or 5'-deiodinase and spot 14 messenger RNA, and the decrease in the serum cholesterol concentration was blunted as in patients with RTH. The effects of T3 in mice infe...
Numerical study of the noise power of a carbon nanowire network

A thin film made of a carbon nanowire network can be mapped into a resistor network containing tunnel junctions that are randomly switched. In such a network the variance in individual resistance is infinity so the perturbative analysis must be applied on conductances. We study the relationship between the noise power and the network morphology through a Monte Carlo simulation of the conductance and the $1/f$ noise spectrum. We find that the noise power scales with the average current in a power law $S\ensuremath{\propto}{I}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\omega}}$, where $\ensuremath{\omega}$ is a function of the network morphology. The noise spectrum is studied in detail, and we give a simple explanation for the observed relation between total noise power and the conductance.