cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality enhancement of parallel MDP flows with mask suppliers

For many maskshops, designed parallel mask data preparation (MDP) flows accompanying with a final data comparison are viewed as a reliable method that could reduce quality risks caused by mis-operation. However, in recent years, more and more mask data mistakes have shown that present parallel MDP flows could not capture all mask data errors yet. In this paper, we will show major failure models of parallel MDP flows from analyzing MDP quality accidents and share our approaches to achieve further improvement with mask suppliers together.
Leveraging modern climatology to increase adaptive capacity across protected area networks

Human-driven changes in the global environment pose an increasingly urgent challenge for the management of ecosystems that is made all the more difficult by the uncertain future of both environmental conditions and ecological responses. Land managers need strategies to increase regional adaptive capacity, but relevant and rapid assessment approaches are lacking. To address this need, we developed a method to assess regional protected area networks across biophysically important climatic gradients often linked to biodiversity and ecosystem function. We plot the land of the southwestern United States across axes of historical climate space, and identify landscapes that may serve as strategic additions to current protected area portfolios. Considering climate space is straightforward, and it can be applied using a variety of relevant climate parameters across differing levels of land protection status. The resulting maps identify lands that are climatically distinct from existing protected areas, and may be utilized in combination with other ecological and socio-economic information essential to collaborative landscape-scale decision-making. Alongside other strategies intended to protect species of special concern, natural resources, and other ecosystem services, the methods presented herein provide another important hedging strategy intended to increase the adaptive capacity of protected area networks.
SURFACE ACTIVE PROPERTIES AND CLEANING EFFICACY OF MATERIALS DERIVED FROM LACTITOL

Six lactitol esters were produced by direct esterification of lactitol and propox-ylated lactitol with long chain fatty acids: lactitol palmitate, lactitol stearate, an ester of lactitol and a 50:50 mixture of the aforementioned fatty acids (lactitol palmitate/stearate) as well as the three esters formed by reaction of propoxylated lactitol with the aforementioned fatty acids (propoxylated lactitol palmitate, propoxylated lactitol stearate and propoxylated lactitol palmitrate /stearate). These products were tested for surface activity as reflected in such properties as surface tension, lime soap dispersion, detergency, and emulsification power. All esters exhibited substantial surface activity. They proved to be effective lime soap dispersing agents and detergents for cotton fabrics. The propoxylated lactitol esters showed lime soap dispersion and detergency properties superior to those of the conventional lactitol esters. The stability of emulsions formed with all these products exceeded that of the sorbitan monolaurate, a commercially available emulsifier and stabilizer.
A morphometric analysis of gullies scoured by post-fire progressively bulked debris flows in southwest Montana, USA

In the fall of 2001, an intense thunderstorm in southwest Montana triggered many debris flows in the burned area of Sleeping Child Creek. In most instances, the debris flows cut deep gullies into previously unchannelized colluvial hollows and deposited large volumes of sediment onto the valley floor. The presence of rill networks above the gullies as well as the absence of landslide features indicate that the gullies were scoured by progressively bulked debris flows, a process in which dilute surface runoff becomes increasingly more laden with sediment until it transforms into a debris flow. In this contribution, we present a morphometric analysis of six of the gullies to better understand this relatively understudied process. We find that the locations of the rill heads and gully heads conform to slope-area thresholds that are characteristic of erosion by overland flow. Our data also suggest that the volumes of the debris flows increase exponentially with normalized drainage area, thus lending support to an assumption used in a recently proposed debris flow incision law. Finally, the debris flow fans have been relatively unaltered since deposition, suggesting that the valley may be currently aggrading while the hillslopes are being denuded.
Sensor failure detection and isolation in flexible structures using system realization redundancy

Sensor failure detection and isolation for flexible structures is approached from a system realization perspective. Instead of using hardware or analytical model redundancy, system realization is utilized to provide an experimental based model redundancy. The failure detection and isolation algorithm utilizes the eigensystem realization algorithm to determine a minimum-order state-space realization of the structure in the presence of noisy measurements. The failure detection and isolation algorithm utilizes statistical comparisons of successive realizations to detect and isolate the failed sensor component. Because of the nature in which the failure detection and isolation algorithm is formulated, it is also possible to classify the failure mode of the sensor. Results are presented using both numerically simulated and actual experimental data.
Pharmacological characterization of MK-6096 - a dual orexin receptor antagonist for insomnia.

Abstract Orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptides promote wakefulness by signaling through two G-protein coupled receptors, Orexin 1 Receptor (OX1R) and Orexin 2 Receptor (OX2R). MK-6096 is an orally bioavailable potent and selective reversible antagonist of OX1R and OX2R currently in clinical development for insomnia. In radioligand binding and functional cell based assays MK-6096 demonstrated potent binding and antagonism of both human OX1R and OX2R ( 170 receptors and enzymes. MK-6096 occupies 90% of human OX2Rs expressed in transgenic rats at a plasma concentration of 142 nM, and dose-dependently reduced locomotor activity and significantly increased sleep in rats (3–30 mg/kg) and dogs (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg). DORA-22, an analog of MK-6096, exhibits similar sleep promoting properties that are absent OX1/2R double knockouts, demonstrating the mechanism of action and specificity of these effects. These findings with a novel, structurally distinct class of OxR antagonists provide further validation of the orexin pathway as an effective target to promote normal sleep. Comparative analysis of the biochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of these compounds relative to other OXR antagonists provides a basis for understanding the attributes critical for in vivo efficacy. This mechanism is distinct from current standard of care such that MK-6096 represents a novel and selective therapeutic for the treatment of insomnia. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder’.
Identification of radiation-induced thymine derivatives in DNA

A methodology for the separation of radiation-induced thymine derivatives in DNA using high pressure liquid chromatography is presented. DNA was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis yielding 2'-deoxyribonucleosides and the hydrolysate cochromatographed with marker compounds. Confirmation of the presence of derivatives was accomplished by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and microderivatization. The method separates free bases from nucleosides allowing for identification of spontaneously released bases or those released through the action of repair enzymes. The results indicate that most of the thymine derivatives formed in irradiated cellular DNA were the same as those found in DNA irradiated in solution. However, the major cellular derivative was not present in the latter. This derivative was identified as 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (HMdU). HMdU has previously been shown to be cytotoxic to cells in culture and caused diarrhea and bone marrow failure when administered to mice. Thus, the presence of this radiation-induced thymine derivative in cellular DNA correlates with the known effects of ionizing radiation on cells and animals.
Phase Diagram of Hexa-N-Alkylthiotriphenylenes

Abstract We have used x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry to establish the phase diagram, liquid crystalline structure, and crystalline structure of a series of hexa-n-alkylthiotriphenylenes. At least nine crystal phases are observed. The helical pitch seen in the helical phase is incommensurate with the molecular spacing when measured in single-orientation strands, while commensurate in powder samples.
EXPERIMENTAL MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: ITS TREATMENT BY EXCISION AND TEFLON FELT REPLACEMENT.

Summary o 1. Findings have been presented in a series of 17 animals in which left ventricular infarcts have been replaced by Teflon prostheses. 2. These prostheses are found to be well tolerated by the animals. 3. The possible clinical implications of this study have been discussed.
Further Investigation of Protégés’ Negative Mentoring Experiences Patterns and Outcomes

Negative mentoring experiences encountered by 242 proteges across their career histories were examined. Negative mentoring experiences clustered into two factors: Distancing/Manipulative Behavior and Poor Dyadic Fit. Proteges’ reports of the impact that these experiences had on them further suggested that several types of negative mentoring experiences were related to job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and stress. Finally, proteges in formally initiated mentoring relationships reported the most negative experience as having more of an effect on turnover intentions and stress than proteges in informal relationships. The results are discussed in the context of broadening the focus of mentoring research and implications for applied practice.
New alkyne bridged mixed-metal clusters and studies of their activity for catalytic hydrosilylation of alkynes

Abstract The homologous series of compounds MPt2(CO)5(PPh3)2(PhC2Ph), M=Fe (1), M=Ru (3) and M=Os (4) were obtained in the yields 55%, 24% and 30% from the reactions of Pt(PPh3)2(PhC2Ph) with Fe(CO)5, Ru3(CO)10, and Os(CO)5, respectively. Each of the products was characterized by IR, elemental analysis and a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. A second mixed-metal cluster product, Ru2Pt(CO)7(PPh3)2(PhC2Ph) (2) (45% yield) was also obtained from the reaction that yielded 3. In fact, it is obtained in a higher yield than that of 3. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 are isostructural and are comprised of a MPt2 (M=Fe, Ru or Os) triangular metal cluster containing a triply bridging diphenylacetylene ligand. The structure of compound 2 is similar to that of 1, 3, and 4, but contains two ruthenium and one platinum atom in the triangular cluster. One coproduct Os(CO)2(PPh3)2(PhC2Ph) (5) (25% yield) was obtained from the reaction of Os(CO)5 with Pt(PPh3)2(PhC2Ph). Compound 5 contains only one metal atom with an approximately trigonal bipyramidal coordination having the two phosphine ligands in the axial positions and the alkyne in an equatorial site. The reaction of 2 with H2 in refluxing hexane afforded the tetranuclear complex H2Ru2Pt2(CO)8(PPh3)2 (6) (11% yield) that contains an Ru2Pt2 tetrahedral shaped cluster with two bridging hydride ligands. The ability of the solutions of compounds 1–6 and Pt(PPh3)2(PhC2Ph) to produce catalytic hydrosilylation of diphenylacetylene by triethylsilane to yield (E)-[(1,2-diphenyl)ethenyl]triethylsilane at 30°C, and 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)butadiyne with triethylsilane to yield (E)-2-triethylsilyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-buten-3-yne at 60°C was investigated. Pt(PPh3)2(PhC2Ph) was the best catalyst for these reactions. Compound 5 is completely inactive. A combination of evidence suggests that the catalytic activity exhibited by the mixed-metal cluster complexes is produced principally by fragmentation products which are almost certainly mononuclear platinum complexes.
Immunochemistry of Monkey Salivary Mucin

The immunochemistry of monkey salivary mucin was examined using a monospecific antiserum. Quantitative precipitation assays using various mucin derivatives indicated that the antiserum contained antibody populations with specificity toward carbohydrate moieties as well as toward non-glycosylated peptide regions. Using quantitative inhibition assays, the carbohydrate specificity was found to reside in a complex oligosaccharide containing fucose.
An unstable nuclear matrix may contribute to genetic instability.

Abstract Cancer cells proliferate and metastasize against the body's defense mechanisms due to their ability to change in response to challenges, both from the body's internal defenses as well as those from external sources, such as radiation and chemotherapy. This ability of tumor cell populations to change and grow in response to these stresses as well as to hold populations of cells with diverse abilitites has been termed ‘tumor cell heterogeneity’. Tumor cell heterogeneity is thought to arise in cancer cell populations as a result of genetic instability, an undefined process by which the genetic material of the cell is rendered more labile and more likely to undergo changes in structure, conformation, and function. DNA is structurally and functionally organized by the nuclear matrix, the dynamic RNA-protein skeleton of the nucleus. We provide here a proposal that provides a framework for understanding genetic instability in terms of an unstable nuclear matrix.
Statistics in disease ecology: introduction to a special issue.

The three papers included in this special issue represent a set of presentations in an invited session on disease ecology at the 2005 Spring Meeting of the Eastern North American Region of the International Biometric Society. The papers each address statistical estimation and inference for particular components of different disease processes and, taken together, illustrate the breadth of statistical issues arising in the study of the ecology and public health impact of disease. As an introduction, we provide a very brief overview of the area of “disease ecology”, a variety of synonyms addressing different aspects of disease ecology, and present a schematic structure illustrating general components of the underlying disease process, data collection issues, and different disciplinary perspectives ranging from microbiology to public health surveillance.
The Ultimate Prostate Cancer Biopsy Decision Support Tool

Which biopsy procedure is optimal and which men should undergo it are pivotal questions regarding prostate cancer diagnosis. Scattoni et al attempt to address the first question by presenting a flowchart that aims to utilize the lowest number of biopsy cores to detect 95% of cancers that would have been detected with 24 cores [1]. Their flowchart uses digital rectal examination findings, prostate volume, and patient age to direct patients to one of four possible 10–16-core biopsy schemes. This study begs the larger question of what the ultimate biopsy decision support systemmight look like if expanded beyond cancer detection rates to the more important end point of clinical outcome. We believe this question to be more important: Which men should undergo any biopsy scheme, and how should it be performed, if at all? Although prostate biopsy is widespread and regarded as a routine office procedure, some men are probably harmed, broadly speaking, by the act of biopsy, while other men are more likely to benefit. Several characteristics would seem likely to distinguish these two groups. The man most likely to benefit from biopsy has a high risk of having ‘‘curable’’ prostate cancer. Although this term is traditionally applied simply to any situation in which it is possible to render the patient free of the disease, for prostate cancer wewould define a curable cancer as one that both justifies treatment and can be effectively treated. The details of this assessment are not easy. The concept that a tumor needs treatment implies that harmwill ensuewithout intervention, while effectively treated means that intervention has donemore good than harm. Thus, treatment should ultimately lead to improved disease-related outcomes without creating morbidity that outweighs this benefit. The likelihood of risk of disease and ability to cure it, if present, is almost impossible to establish in an individual patient, especially prior to biopsy. Another characteristic of
Response of copepods to physical gradients associated with structure in the ocean

We studied the response of the copepods Acartia tonsa and Temora longicornis to spatial gradients of flow velocity and fluid density to determine whether the presence of physical gradients initiated local search for resources or promoted aggregation. Two additional species of copepods, Candacia ethiopica and Labidocera madurae,were also exposed to velocity gradients. A plane jet flume apparatus facilitated the isolation of physical structures that mimic those found in the ocean and permitted high-resolution behavioral observations. All four species significantly increased the proportion of time in the gradient layer region relative to the total time in the observation window (proportional residence time) in response to the velocity-gradient layer. Behavioral changes, such as increased swimming speed and turn frequency, were consistent with area-restricted search behavior. T. longicornis also significantly increased proportional residence time in response to the density-gradient layer, but changes in swimming speed and turn frequency were not significantly different. A. tonsa and T. longicornis appeared to contact the density gradient and swim away or along the boundary. Hence, density gradients may act as a barrier to vertical movement and not as a positive cue for area-restricted search behavior. Velocity and density gradients play important, yet different, roles in defining patterns at fine-to-intermediate scales in zooplankton ecology.
Dual-frequency Doppler-Lidar method of wind measurement

In this new method [dual-frequency Doppler-lidar (DFDL)] of remote wind sensing, two optical beams of unlike frequency are superimposed in the sensed volume. The velocity information is obtained from the difference in the Doppler shifts of light scattered from the two beams by aerosols moving with the air. The DFDL signal spectrum and expressions for SNR are derived. Attractive characteristics of DFDL include resilience to optical imperfections of the turbulent atmosphere and a potential for simultaneous measurement of the three components of wind velocity.
Unit commitment risk with sequential rescheduling

Rescheduling decisions in power system operation are often made to commit additional generating capacity to meet the system obligation of load plus spinning reserve. These are based on the observation of some events (e.g. unit forced outage) which lead to possible capacity deficiency. A new concept is presented of unit commitment risk analysis which explicitly models the stochastic sequence of events associated with rescheduling decisions. This concept is compared with that of the PJM method via a simple example. Based on the concept of rescheduling, a stochastic model is proposed for risk analysis, and this model is illustrated via simulation results. >
Critical Assessment Of Imaging Parameters And Clinical Relevance For Magnification Skeletal Radiography

AbstractRecent advances in technology have made radiographic magnification of the skeletonclinically feasible. A new electron gun micro -focal spot tube combined with new high -resolution recording systems were used to perform magnification radiography, which was thencompared with conventional contact radiography. Quantitative evaluation included measure-ments of speed, contrast, resolution, and noise. Qualitative evaluation included ananalysis of 215 clinical cases in which both techniques were used. The superior imagequality of direct radiographic magnification is confirmed and the clinical areas in whichit proved most helpful are defined.IntroductionThis discussion reviews the methodology, results, and implication of a preliminaryanalysis in which several direct magnification radiographic techniques are comparedquantitatively and qualitatively with several selected conventional radiographic techniquesfor skeletal applications. Additionally, an initial 12 months clinical experience withmagnification is assessed in order to define the areas in which magnification is useful.Methods and MeasurementsFour radiographic techniques are studied (Table 1), i.e., for thin parts, a conventionaland a comparison magnification technique, and similarly for thick parts, a conventionaland a comparison magnification technique. The two conventional techniques employ standardradiographic procedures and equipment widely used for skeletal radiography. The two magni-fication techniques employ 3X direct magnification using a nominal 0.1 mm focal spot tube(RSI MFT1, Radiologic Sciences, Inc.) and relatively high -resolution recording systems.The typical exposure conditions for these four techniques are given in Table 1. Thin bodyparts are exposed at 50 -60 kVp and thick body parts at 65 -75 kVp. The conventional tech-niques use high mA, short exposure times, and standard distances. A Bucky grid is usedonly with the conventional technique for thick parts. The magnification techniques use themaximum setting of 3 mA and require relatively long exposure times at short distances.Table 1. Four Radiographic Techniques ExaminedThin Parts Thick PartsConventional Magnification Conventional MagnificationRP Cardboard1.2 mm F.S.1.03X Mag.
The relationship between parent-child communication about sexuality and college students' sexual behavior and attitudes as a function of parental proximity.

Although some researchers have indicated that when parents are the main source of sex education, their adolescent children tend to engage in less pre? marital sexual activity (Lewis, 1973; Spanier, 1977) and are more Ukely to use birth control (Fox & Inazu, 1980; Furstenberg, 1971), more recently several authors have raised doubts about the extent of family influence on adolescent sexuaUty (DarUng & Hicks, 1982; Herceg-Baron & Furstenberg, 1982; New? comer & Udry, 1985). One reason for discrepant results may be that com? munication about sexuaUty has been measured in a variety of ways. Measures of family communication about sexuaUty used previously have either con? sisted of a count of the number of sexual topics discussed (e.g., Fox & Inazu; Lewis), the number of sexual messages conveyed (DarUng & Hicks) or a dichotomous response (yes or no) to one or more questions about family discus? sions of sexuaUty (e.g., Herceg-Baron & Furstenberg; Newcomer & Udry). It seems to be generaUy true that the researchers utilizing a measure with a greater range of values have been more Ukely to report a relationship between adolescent sexual behavior and family sexual discussions. One area in which there does seem to be a consistent difference between late adolescents who have talked to their parents about sex as opposed to those who have not is in the similarity of parents' and children's sexual attitudes. Fisher (1986,1987) reported that coUege students from high sexual communi? cation famiUes had sexual attitudes that were significantly more highly corre? lated with those of their parents than did subjects in this age group from low sexual communication famiUes. It is possible, however, that these findings were a function of the fact that most of these late adolescents were stiU residing with their parents. The greater number of influences to which students Uving away from home are exposed might tend to diminish or eUminate the relationship between farmly sexual communication and attitude similarity. However, SuUivan and SuUivan (1980) found that coUege students who Uved away from home exhibited increased affection, communication, and satisfaction with their parents. Leaving home may accelerate the "second indi? viduation process" that Blos (1967) has suggested occurs during adolescence.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless protocols: a survey and a comparison

Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) are two communication protocol standards that define a physical layer and a MAC layer for wireless communications within a short range (from a few meters up to 100 m) with low power consumption (from less than 1 mW up to 100 mW). Bluetooth is oriented to connecting close devices, serving as a substitute for cables, while Wi-Fi is oriented toward computer-to-computer connections, as an extension of or substitution for cabled LANs. In this article we offer an overview of these popular wireless communication standards, comparing their main features and behaviors in terms of various metrics, including capacity, network topology, security, quality of service support, and power consumption.
Optimal Training Data Selection for Rule-Based Data Cleansing Models

Enterprises today accumulate huge quantities of data which is often noisy and unstructured in nature making data cleansing an important task. Data cleansing refers to standardizing data from different sources to a common format so that data can be better utilized. Most of the enterprise data cleansing models are rule based involving lot of manual effort. Writing data quality rules is tedious task and often results in creation of erroneous rules because of the ambiguities that the data presents. A robust data cleansing model should be capable of handling a wide variety of records which is often dependant on the choice of the sample records knowledge engineer uses to write the rules. In this paper we present a method to select a diverse set of data records which when used to create the rule based data cleansing model can cover the maximum number of records. We also present a similarity metric between two records which help in choosing the diverse set of data samples. We also present a crowd sourcing based labeling mechanism to label the diverse records selected by the system so that collective intelligence of crowd can be used to eliminate the errors that occur in labeling sample data. We also present a method to select difficult set of diverse examples so that the crowd and the rule writer services can be effectively utilized to create a better cleansing model. We also present a method selection of such records for updating an existing rule set. We present the experimental results to show the effectiveness of the proposed methods. Results demonstrate an increase of 12% in the number of rules written, using this procedure. We also show that the method identifies records on which the existing model yields lower accuracy than on the records identified by other techniques, and thus identifies records that are more difficult to cleanse for the existing model.
The effect of nerve growth factor on hindlimb regeneration in Xenopus laevis froglets.

The effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on hindlimb regeneration in postmetamorphic Xenopus laevis froglets was investigated. Two different dosage levels of NGF were tested on froglets whose hindlimbs had been amputated either above or below the knee joint. The course of regeneration in the NGF-treated froglets was followed for 100 days post-amputation. Treatment with NGF at a level of 2,500 Biological Units per froglet increases the extent of hindlimb regeneration attained compared with the controls, regardless of the level of amputation. On the other hand, a higher dose of NGF, 5,000 Units per froglet, does not alter the extent of hindlimb regeneration significantly. Treatment with NGF at either dosage does not appear to affect the shape or histological constitution of the regenerated limb segment. The general shape of the regenerate correlates with the level at which the limb was amputated. All regenerates obtained in this study conform to a common pattern in terms of histological constitution. They are composed of a central core of cartilage with a perichondrial membrane surrounded by a thin layer of connective tissue and covered by fully differentiated epidermis. No differentiated bone, muscle or nervous tissue was detected in any of the regenerates, but evidence of cartilage calcification was observed in limbs amputated below the knee. Possible implications of these results are discussed.
A protected block device for Persistent Memory

Persistent Memory (PM) technologies, such as Phase Change Memory, STT-RAM, and memristors, are receiving increasingly high interest in academia and industry. PM provides many attractive features, such as DRAM-like speed and storage- like persistence. Yet, because it draws a blurry line between mem- ory and storage, neither a memory- or storage-based model is a natural fit. Best integrating PM into existing systems has become challenging and is now a top priority for many. In this paper we share our initial approach to integrating PM into computer systems, with minimal impact to the core operating system. By adopting a hybrid storage model, all of our changes are confined to a block storage driver, called PMBD, which directly accesses PM attached to the memory bus and exposes a logical block I/O interface to users. We explore the design space by examining a variety of options to achieve performance, protection from stray writes, ordered persistence, and compatibility for legacy file systems and applications. All told, we find that by using a combination of existing OS mechanisms (per-core page table mappings, non-temporal store instructions, memory fences, and I/O barriers), we are able to achieve each of these goals with small performance overhead for both micro-benchmarks and real world applications (e.g., file server and database workloads). Our experience suggests that determining the right combination of existing platform and OS mechanisms is a non-trivial exercise. In this paper, we share both our failed and successful attempts. The final solution that we propose represents an evolution of our initial approach. We have also open-sourced our software prototype with all attempted design options to encourage further research in this area. Index Terms—Memory, Storage, Persistent memory, Operating system, Device driver
Fast retrace of particle orbits through a large, inhomogeneous magnetic field

Abstract A fast method of retracting orbits through a large, inhomogeneous magnetic field has been developed for applications in particle-physics experiments. The momenta of particles are found by simple linear interpolation in a mesh of previously calculated representative orbits. The essential feature of the scheme is to perform a transformation on the set of observables defining the orbit before doing the interpolation. This is done to reduce both interpolation errors and the required number of mesh points. A detailed development of the method is presented for an actual apparatus. For this apparatus particles were retraced in 0.6 ms/orbit using a CDC 6600 computer, and for 100 mesh points interpolation errors were found to be smaller than experimental errors by more than an order of magnitude.
A Devil's Dictionary of Behavioral Science Research Terms*

The article refers to Ambrose Bierce and offers a list of behavioral-science research terms that are defined from a less serious perspective. The list includes “bias,” “methodologically unsound,” “participant observation,” and “tests of significance.”
Partial internal reflections on total internal reflection fluorescent microscopy

Microscopy, especially fluorescence microscopy, has proven to be a powerful method for studying biological processes. Unfortunately, some of the same features that make biological membranes powerful (for example, all of the action taking place across a narrow 4nm film) also make it difficult to visualize by fluorescence. Over the past 30 years, numerous tricks have been developed to narrow the plane over which data is collected. One approach, total internal reflection (TIR) fluorescence microscopy, is particularly well suited for studying membrane events. A key issue to address when using TIR to tackle a new biological problem is: how can one judge whether the signals being observed are actually the biological phenomena that one wishes to study?
Floral signal complexity as a possible adaptation to environmental variability: a test using nectar-foraging bumblebees, Bombus impatiens

Floral signals are typically emitted across multiple sensory modalities, although why they are multimodal is unclear. One possible explanation is that multimodal signalling ensures that at least one signal component will be transmitted effectively under varying environmental conditions (the ‘efficacy backup’ hypothesis). For example, by transmitting both component A and B, a signaller can communicate under environmental conditions where transmission of component A is reduced; component B ‘backs up’ A. To test this hypothesis, we determined whether a floral scent could back up a floral colour signal when light levels were low. We trained nectar-foraging bumblebees to discriminate rewarding and unrewarding targets that differed in colour, scent, or both colour and scent, and then presented the targets at different levels of illumination. We measured bees’ accuracy at distinguishing the two targets and their rate of visits to the trained target. Performance on both measures declined under low light when targets were unscented. The presence of scent reduced the loss of accuracy under low light, supporting the efficacy backup hypothesis, but this effect depended upon the colour of the previously rewarded target. In contrast, the presence of scent did not affect the overall rate of correct visits under low light (correct visits/foraging time). A backup mechanism that maintains accuracy, but not rate of nectar collection, does not necessarily benefit the pollinator. However, it most likely benefits the plant through reduced pollen wastage. In short, multimodal floral signals may benefit the plant by improving pollen transfer, while not benefiting the pollinator.
Effect of chlorhexidine bathing and other infection control practices on the Benefits of Universal Glove and Gown (BUGG) trial: a subgroup analysis.

We report the results of a subgroup analysis of the Benefits of Universal Glove and Gown trial. In 20 intensive care units, the reduction in acquisition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus observed in this trial was observed in units also using chlorhexidine bathing and in those that previously performed active surveillance. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;00(0): 1–4
Pathophysiological Principles in the Treatment of Patients with Renal Failure

It is estimated that, by 1984, 55,000–60,000 patients will be maintained on dialysis in the United States and a minimum of 5200 will be transplanted. The total yearly cost of medical care for these patients will exceed $3 billion. Because of the protean manifestations of renal failure, physicians not primarily trained in renal diseases are often involved in the care and management of the patient with impaired renal function. A basic knowledge of the treatment rationale is therefore critical.
Conceptualizing and Investigating Instructor Presence in Online Learning Environments.

As online learning opportunities continue to grow it is important to continually consider instructor practices. Using case study methodology this study conceptualizes instructor presence, the intersection of social and teaching presence as defined within the Community of Inquiry literature, and is based in the implementation phase of online courses which is important to note since instructors often teach courses they did not design or develop. The investigation of the instructor presence behaviors of 12 online instructors and the emerging profiles of instructor presence provide a gateway to strategies for online instructors and offer a window into the ways instructional presence elements work together while providing insights into how to make the best use of online instructor time. In practical terms, the profiling method provides a useful way for practitioners to improve their own experiences.
The Effects of Pre-Cooling and Warm Packing on Interior Egg Quality

Abstract FOR many years pre-cooling of eggs prior to packing has been considered an important factor in maintaining interior egg quality. The State of North Carolina (1965) specifies in its egg laws that eggs be cooled to 15.6°C. immediately after gathering. Most agricultural colleges still recommend cooling eggs for 24 hours at 12 to 15°C. prior to packing in cartons or cases. Yet, the advent of greater mechanization and efficiency at both production and processing levels has led many segments in the egg trade to question the economic and physical necessity for pre-cooling eggs prior to processing. A number of workers have reported studies comparing the albumen quality of pre-cooled eggs versus those packed prior to cooling. Fry and Newell (1957) confirmed the findings of Lorenz and Newlon (1944) and Dawson and Hall (1954) that interior quality after holding did not differ significantly between eggs cased immediately after gathering, and eggs…
Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer design for high power transmission

Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (cMUTs) were developed to meet the demands of the ultrasonic industry. To achieve maximum efficiency, the conventional operation of the cMUT requires a bias voltage close to the collapse voltage. Total acoustic output pressure is limited by the efficiency of the cMUT and the maximum-allowed pulse voltage on the membrane. In this paper, we propose the collapse-snapback operation of the cMUT: the membrane is collapsed onto the substrate in the collapsing cycle, and released in the snapback cycle. The collapse-snapback operation overcomes the above-mentioned limitations of the conventional operation. The collapse-snapback operation utilizes a larger range of membrane deflection profiles (both collapsed and released profiles) and generates higher acoustic output pressures. The static finite element calculations were performed to design cMUTs with specific collapse and snapback voltages by changing the electrode parameters (radius (r/sub e/), position (d/sub e/), and thickness (t/sub e/)). These designs were refined for optimum average displacement per cycle. An electrode radius greater than 60% of the membrane radius significantly improved the displacement per volt. Moderately thick membranes (t/sub e//spl sim/0.2 /spl mu/m) were preferred, as thicker membranes reduced the displacement per volt. Under proper bias conditions, the collapse-snapback operation, designed for high-power transmission, allowed the application of pulse voltages larger than the difference of collapse and snapback voltages. Dynamic finite element calculations of an infinite cMUT array on the substrate loaded with acoustic fluid medium were performed to determine the dynamic response of the cMUT. Commercially available FEM packages ANSYS and LSDYNA were used for static and dynamic calculations, respectively. The cMUTs were fabricated for optimal performance in the collapse-snapback operation. The transmit experiments were performed on a 2-D cMUT array using a calibrated hydrophone. Taking into account the attenuation and diffraction losses, the pressure on the cMUT surface was extracted. The cMUT generated 0.47 MPa (6 kPa/V) and 1.04 MPa (11 kPa/V) in the conventional and collapse-snapback operations, respectively. Therefore, collapse-snapback operation of the cMUTs was superior for high-power transmission.
Identifying Potential Factors of Adolescent Online Victimization for High School Seniors

The purpose of this study was to investigate previous Internet usage in a sample of college freshmen, and to reflect on their experiences with online victimization, through variables representing the three constructs of Routine Activities Theory. A survey was administered to 100-level courses at a midsized university in the Northeast, which questioned respondents on their Internet behaviors and experiences with victimization during the high school senior period. The findings of the study indicated that participating in behaviors that increased exposure to motivated offenders and target suitability in turn increased the likelihood of the three types of victimization measured. Conversely, taking protective measures against victimization to improve capable guardianship generally did not decrease the likelihood of victimization. This research provides a significant contribution to the literature as there are few explanatory studies that attempt to identify reasoning for the victimization of adolescents online.
Antibody to cytomegalovirus in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. As determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

By use of an enzyme-lined immunosorbent assay (ELISA), patients with Sjogren's syndrome were found to have levels of serum IgG antibody to cytomegalovirus twice those of matched control subjects, and IgM antibody levels which were three times as high. It may be relevant that features of cytomegalovirus infection are similar to those of Sjogren's syndrome.
Negative regulation of HIF‐1α by an FBW7‐mediated degradation pathway during hypoxia

Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) stimulates expression of genes associated with angiogenesis and is associated with poor outcomes in ovarian and other cancers. In normoxia, HIF-1α is ubiquitinated and degraded through the E3 ubiquitin ligase, von Hippel-Lindau; however, little is known about the regulation of HIF-1α in hypoxic conditions. FBW7 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that recognizes proteins phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and targets them for destruction. This study used an ovarian cancer cell model to test the hypothesis that HIF-1α phosphorylation by GSK3β in hypoxia leads to interaction with FBW7 and ubiquitin-dependent degradation. Expression of constitutively active GSK3β reduced HIF-1α protein and transcriptional activity and increased ubiquitination of HIF-1α in hypoxia, whereas pharmacologic inhibition of GSK3 or expression of siGSK3β promoted HIF-1α stabilization and activity. A mechanism through FBW7 was supported by the observed decrease in HIF-1α stabilization when FBW7 was overexpressed and both the elevation of HIF-1α levels and decrease in ubiquitinated HIF-1α when FBW7 was suppressed. Furthermore, HIF-1α associated with FBW7γ by co-immunoprecipitation, and the interaction was weakened by inhibition of GSK3 or mutation of GSK3β phosphorylation sites. The relevance of this pathway to angiogenic signaling was supported by the finding that endothelial cell tube maturation was increased by conditioned media from hypoxic SK-OV-3 cell lines expressing suppressed GSK3β or FBW7. These data introduce a new mechanism for regulation of HIF-1α during hypoxia that utilizes phosphorylation to target HIF-1α for ubiquitin-dependent degradation through FBW7 and may identify new targets in the regulation of angiogenesis.
Minimally Invasive Adrenalectomy

Minimally invasive adrenalectomy has become the gold standard for removal of benign adrenal tumors. The imaging characteristics, biochemical evaluation, and patient selection for laparoscopic transabdominal and posterior retroperitoneoscopic approaches are discussed with details of surgical technique for both procedures.
Longitudinal plasma metanephrines preceding pheochromocytoma diagnosis: a retrospective case–control serum repository study

OBJECTIVE Plasma metanephrines (PMN) are highly sensitive for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, but the natural history of PMN before pheochromocytoma diagnosis has not been previously described. The aim of the study was to compare the progression of PMN before pheochromocytoma diagnosis to matched healthy and essential hypertension disease controls. DESIGN A retrospective case-control Department of Defense Serum Repository (DoDSR) study. METHODS We performed a DoDSR study that compared three longitudinal pre-diagnostic PMN for 30 biopsy-proven pheochromocytoma cases to three longitudinal PMN for age, sex, race, and age of serum sample matched healthy and essential hypertension disease controls. Predominant metanephrine (MN) or normetanephrine (NMN) production was identified for each case and converted to a percentage of the upper limit of normal to allow analysis of all cases together. PMN were measured by Quest Diagnostics. RESULTS The predominant plasma metanephrine (PPM) was >100 and 300% of the upper limit of normal a median of 6.6 and 4.1 years before diagnosis respectively. A greater percentage of pheochromocytoma patients had a PPM >100 and >300% of the upper limit of normal compared with combined healthy and essential hypertension disease controls 8 years prior to diagnosis. For patients with a baseline PPM 90-300% of the upper limit of normal, a 25% rate of rise per year was 100% specific for pheochromocytoma. CONCLUSIONS PPMs elevate years before diagnosis which suggests that delayed diagnoses are common. For mild PMN elevations, follow-up longitudinal PMN trends may provide a highly specific and economical diagnostic tool.
Sales Simulation Games: Student and Instructor Perceptions

This study combines the perspective of students (n = 137) and sales instructors (n = 248). It compares how well selling and sales management simulation games, case discussions, and traditional lect...
Effects of Babesia bovis on the Ovipositional Success of the Southern Cattle Tick, Boophilus microplus

The presence of Babesia bovis (Babes) did not significantly affect the repletion weight of infected Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) females (395.6 mg) as compared with uninfected females (409.3 mg). The preoviposition period did not differ between uninfected and infected ticks (3.7 and 3.8 days, respectively). Females infected with B. bovis laid significantly smaller egg masses (93.1 mg) than uninfected females (163.5 mg). Uninfected ticks laid a significantly larger number of eggs than infected females. The average oviposition period was significantly longer for uninfected than for infected females (15.7 and 8.8 days, respectiyely). Apparently the presence of the parasite did not significantly affect either hatchability (ca. 85%) or the minimum incubation time of the eggs (26 days). This study provides some insight into the apparent lack of outbreaks of babesiosis in the United States. The eradication program in the United States severely limits the movement and buildup of large populations of B. microplus ticks. This fact, along with the small number of eggs laid by infected females and the natural attrition rate of larvae in the field, suggests that B. bovis -infected ticks have been unable to establish a population of sufficient size to infect cattle.
Evolution of homopolymer thin-film instability on surface-anchored diblock copolymers varying in composition.

The stability of molecularly thin polymer films deposited on various material substrates is of critical importance to many contemporary nanotechnologies involving functional coatings and nano/micropatterned surfaces, in which case the causes responsible for film destabilization must be fully understood. Previous experimental studies report that factors such as film thickness and polymer molecular weight play significant roles in governing the rate, as well as mechanism, of destabilization. Complementary theoretical predictions reveal that surface heterogeneities can likewise induce (and regulate the process of) destabilization. In this study, we investigate the destabilization rate and mechanism of homopolystyrene (PS) films differing in thickness on top of poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (SM) diblock copolymer monolayers varying in chemical composition anchored to flat silica-like substrates to examine the effect of surface constitution on PS stability. Copolymers with a long M block consistently pro...
Drawing Upon Lessons Learned Effective Curriculum and Instruction for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Gifted Learners

Javits Gifted and Talented Education Program has provided a wealth of knowledge on culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) gifted learners and how to support teachers in their work with CLD stu...