cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zooplankton community grazing impact on a bloom of Alexandrium fundyense in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract Shipboard grazing experiments were conducted in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank during of June 2006 to estimate zooplankton community grazing impact on a natural bloom of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense. Surface seawater samples containing natural populations of grazers and A. fundyense from 23 stations were incubated at ambient temperatures. Concentrations of A. fundyense after incubations were compared to those at the start of each experiment to determine net increases due to population growth, or decreases presumed to be primarily due to grazing losses. Abundances of both microzooplankton (tintinnids, oligotrich ciliates, rotifers, copepod nauplii and heterotrophic dinoflagellates) and mesozooplankton (copepod nauplii, copepodites and adult copepods, rotifers, marine cladocerans, and meroplankton) grazers in experimental aliquots were also determined. The total zooplankton community had minimal grazing impact on natural populations of A. fundyense at most stations. At 70% of the stations where grazing experiments were performed, there were no significant differences in initial and final concentrations of A. fundyense. This indicated that growth of, and grazing on A. fundyense were in approximate balance. At 2 stations, which had the highest A. fundyense abundances of the cruise (>104 cells l−1), % of the A. fundyense population grazed per day was significantly negative, indicating that net population growth of A. fundyense exceeded grazing losses. At 5 stations, which had low concentrations of A. fundyense (102–103 cells l−1), % of the A. fundyense population grazed per day was significantly positive, indicating that losses of A. fundyense due to grazing exceeded net population growth. For stations with significant differences between Initial and Grazed concentrations of A. fundyense, grazing had the greatest impact at lower concentrations of A. fundyense, and grazing impact by the larger mesozooplankton was inversely related to zooplankton abundance. There was no relationship between microzooplankton abundance and grazing impact on A. fundyense. Grazing exceeded growth only where A. fundyense abundance was low, and growth exceeded grazing only where A. fundyense abundance was high. The inverse relationship between grazing impact and A. fundyense abundance implies that grazing may be capable of retarding bloom development at low concentrations typical of the early stages of a bloom, but at higher concentrations once a bloom becomes established, either grazing maintains a balance with A. fundyense growth, or growth exceeds grazing losses at highest concentrations.
The use of SCF-MO calculations and experimental data in evaluating general quadratic force fields of light atom molecules

Abstract The semiempirical MOCIC method, in which SCF-MO calculations are combined with limited frequency data in evaluating general quadratic force fields, has been tested on several light atom molecules (F2CO, H2CO, FNO, HCCH, NCCN, and H2CCCH2). Both MNDO and available ab initio treatments have been employed to establish the MOCIC constraints. The MOCIC potential functions are found to be remarkably close to potential functions determined uniquely from a plethora of experimental data. In comparison with potential constants evaluated using SCF-MO methods, the MOCIC functions are in much better agreement with experimentally determined counterparts. In addition to improving the estimates of primary potentials, the MOCIC approach gives statistically significant improvement in the estimate of interaction constants for these multiply bonded molecules where stretch-stretch interactions are large. The MOCIC constraint procedure is shown to work extremely well for fluorinated molecules.
Attenuation of the febrile response in guinea pigs by fish oil enriched diets.

The influence of dietary lipid manipulation on the fever response to an injection of murine recombinant Interleukin-1 (rIL-1) in guinea pigs was examined. The animals were fed diets identical except for the lipid source for periods of 5 and 6 wk. In vitro thromboxane B2/B3 (TxB 2/B3) production in collagen-stimulated whole blood was also measured. One diet was enriched with menhaden oil, high in the omega-3 series of fatty acids. The other diet contained safflower oil, consisting primarily of the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (74%). Animals fed the fish oil-enriched diet for 6 wk not 5 week had a blunted fever response after rIL-1 injection. This was associated with a 27% increase (p < 0.05) in total omega-3 fatty acids in plasma phospholipids between weeks 5 and 6 in fish oil-fed animals. Safflower oil-fed animals produced a "normal" febrile response regardless of the duration of feeding. Safflower-fed guinea pigs demonstrated a significant increase in TxB2/B3 production in whole blood after 6 wks tha...
Generalized parallel sampling

Abstract We develop a generalized version of the parallel tempering algorithm, based upon the non-extensive thermostatistics of Tsallis and coworkers. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated on a simple one-dimensional problem and on a Lennard-Jones cluster.
Comparative local economic benefits of conventional and alternative cropping systems

I reexamined five previously published studies that compared the economics of high input conventional crop production systems in various regions to the economics of lower input alternatives that use green manures, cover crops, and more diversified rotations, but no inorganic fertilizers and little or no synthetic pesticides. The original analyses were extended to include estimates of each production system's contribution to the local economy, both directly through farmers' payments for labor and interest, and indirectly through the payrolls and profits of enterprises serving farmers. A similar comparison was also made for high input irrigated and lower input nonirrigated corn production. On a per acre basis, the high input systems' local economic benefits were equal to or greater than those of the lower input systems. However, they were lower as a fraction of total value of production in all but one case, since production was always higher for the higher input systems. Correspondingly, with all but one of the higher input systems, a greater portion of the value of production left the local economy to pay for purchased inputs. This becomes significant if the production system is not sustainable, so that the total productive potential of the area's agricultural resources is finite when integrated over their entire economic life. In such circumstances, the results imply that under the conventional system the local economy will capture a smaller share of the total productive value of those resources.
Bipedicled flaps in posttraumatic lower-extremity reconstruction.

Summary Background Complex, lower-extremity, soft-tissue defects pose a significant challenge to the reconstructive surgeon and often require the use of free flaps, which puts significant demands on the patient, the surgeon and the health-care system. Bipedicled flaps are random but receive a blood supply from two pedicles, allowing the surgeon to use local tissue with an augmented nutrient blood flow. They are simple to elevate and economical in operating time. This study describes our experience with lower-extremity wound reconstruction using the bipedicled flap as an alternative to pedicled flaps and free flaps. Methods Ten patients with lower-extremity defects underwent bipedicled flap reconstruction. Operative times, length of stay following flap procedure and postoperative complications were documented. Data were collected in a prospective fashion. Results Two patients had minimal areas of flap necrosis, both of which resolved with conservative local wound care and one patient developed a postoperative wound infection remedied with a course of oral antibiotics. We experienced one major complication involving wound dehiscence requiring an additional flap. Conclusions Bipedicled flaps provide a safe, fast and relatively easy alternative for coverage of certain complex open wounds in the lower extremities. Their use does not preclude the use of more traditional options of pedicled muscle or free flap coverage at a later time should they be required. Clinical questions addressed/Level of evidence: What are alternative strategies for lower-extremity wound reconstruction. Level of Evidence V.
Impurity problems for steady-state nonequilibrium dynamical mean-field theory

Abstract The mapping of steady-state nonequilibrium dynamical mean-field theory from the lattice to the impurity is described in detail. Our focus is on the case with current flow under a constant dc electric field of arbitrary magnitude. In addition to formulating the problem via path integrals and functional derivatives, we also describe the distribution-function dependence of the retarded and advanced Green's functions. Our formal developments are exact for the Falicov–Kimball model. We also show how these formal developments are modified for more complicated models (like the Hubbard model).
Frequency stabilization of a mode-locked waveguide laser using the Pound-Drever-Hall technique

The generation of stable mode-locked pulses in the 1550 nm regime is required for high resolution signal processing used in transient probes, optical clocks, and optical A-D converters. More recently the frequency combs comprising these pulses have been applied to innovative methods of arbitrary waveform generation (AWG) in the optical domain. Temporal stability, however, limits the performance in some of those applications. We show here that a Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique applied to a mode-locked Erbium Doped Waveguide Laser (EDWL) effectively stabilizes the frequency comb for extended time intervals. The ultra-compact waveguide configuration offers greater packaging flexibility. The system performance in terms of temporal stability is also found to compare favorably with those of a high grade commercial erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL).
Passively Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip lasers and applications

Passively Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip lasers are robust, compact, economical, all-solid-state sources of coherent, subnanosecond, multikilowatt pulses at high repetition rates. When pumped with the cw output of commercially available infrared diode lasers, these diminutive, quasi-monolithic devices produce 1.064-μm pulses with a pulse width as short as 218 ps, pulse energy up to 250 μJ, and peak power up to 565 kW, without any switching electronics. The high output intensities of the microchip lasers enable the construction of extremely compact nonlinear optical systems capable of operating at any wavelength from 5000 to 190 nm. The short pulses are useful for high-precision ranging and 3-dimensional imaging using time-of-flight techniques. When focused, the output intensities are sufficient to photoablate materials, with applications in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and micromachining. The ultraviolet harmonics of the microchip laser have been used to perform fluorescence spectroscopy for a variety of applications, including environmental monitoring. Systems based on passively Q-switched microchip lasers, like the lasers themselves, are small, efficient, robust, and potentially low cost, making them ideally suited for field use.
Mesonic enhancement of the weak axial-vector current evaluated from beta decay in the lead region.

A shell-model study is made of first-forbidden \ensuremath{\beta} decay in A=205--212 nuclei. A least-squares fit for eighteen \ensuremath{\Delta}J=0 and 1 decays gave a scaling factor for the rank-one contributions of 0.97\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06, i.e., agreement with experiment, and an enhancement factor ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{\mathrm{MEC}}$ for the rank-zero matrix element of ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{5}$ of 2.01\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05, indicating an enhancement by 100% over the impulse approximation. A 40% effect is predicted from meson exchange. Thus, a deficiency in the meson-exchange calculation or some further unforeseen effect is suggested.
Design and function of a mechanical assembly for recording echocardiograms during upright exercise

It has proved difficult to record satisfactorily echocardiograms during patient motion. This report describes the design and preliminary results obtained with an echo harness with which the transducer can be held stationary or moved rapidly and predictably by remote control. With this apparatus, recordings can be made during tilting, drug intervention, and during bicycle and treadmill exercise.
Sleep Problems in Urban, Minority, Early-School-Aged Children More Prevalent Than Previously Recognized

Objectives. To use the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) to characterize sleep problems in a group of 5- to 6-year-old minority children living in urban communities and to compare our findings with data from 5- to 6-year-old children in the original CSHQ validation study. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect sleep data from parents using the CSHQ. Results. The CSHQ was completed by 160 parents; 150 (94%) scored ≥41, indicating a sleep problem. The prevalence of having sleep problems for our minority community sample was significantly higher than the original community sample (94% vs 23%, P < .001). The minority sample also had significantly higher mean total CSHQ scores (51.5 vs 37.9, P < .001) and higher scores across all 8 subscales of the CSHQ (P < .001 for all comparisons). Conclusions. The results suggest that sleep problems may be more prevalent in urban, early-school-aged minority children than previously reported.
Suppressed Natural Killer Cell Activity in Patients with Silicone Breast Implants: Reversal upon Explantation:

We have previously shown that natural killer (NK) cell activity is significantly suppressed in patients with silicone breast implants. These patients were symptomatic and the suppression of natural killer cell activity was associated with additional significant immunological abnormalities (Vojdani et al., 1992a). Our studies have recently been confirmed by Smith et al. (1994), who described natural killer cell activity suppression following exposure to silicone gel, and reversal upon removal of the gel. This study has been designed to evaluate natural killer cell activities in symptomatic women with silicone breast implants and again after explantation of the implants. Each patient served as her own control. Our findings show a marked significant increase in previously suppressed natural killer cell activity in 50% of the patients. In the other 50%, no change or suppressed NK activity was observed. These findings are compatible with recent studies in experimental animals, which show that administration of silicone reduces natural killer cell activity, and that this is reversible upon removal of the silicone. Since NK cells are important in the control of tumor cell growth, we propose here that patients with reduced NK cell activity are at a higher risk of developing cancer, a concept recently described in experimental animals (Potter et al., 1994; Salhon et al., 1994).
Long-duration neutron production by nonflaring transients in the solar corona

The purpose of this work is to study neutron enhancements observed using the Neutron Spectrometer aboard MESSENGER in order to identify events that may have been generated at/or near the Sun by solar transients. To securely establish an origin of the observed neutrons that is non-local to the MESSENGER spacecraft, a measurement of the energetic ion environment local to MESSENGER is needed. For this purpose, we use energetic ion spectrometers on several spacecraft at 1 AU when they were magnetically connected to MESSENGER during an event. We report strong evidence that for six neutron events studied in detail, the detected neutrons do not likely have a local spacecraft origin. By implication, most of the detected neutrons for these six events may have originated near the Sun, generated by many moderate-level solar eruptive events that produce an extended solar exosphere of moderate-energy neutrons, protons, and electrons.
Efficacy, safety and tolerability of Symbyax® for acute-phase management of treatment-resistant depression

Treatment resistance is frequently encountered during the long-term care of patients with major depression. A number of 'next step' therapeutic options exist in such cases, including switching to an alternative antidepressant, combining antidepressants from different pharmacological classes, adding evidence-supported psychotherapies to ongoing antidepressant treatment and augmentation with a nonantidepressant drug. Augmenting antidepressants with atypical antipsychotic drugs has generated considerable clinical interest. Three atypical antipsychotics (aripiprazole, quetiapine and olanzapine) have received regulatory approval for adjunctive use with antidepressants for treatment-resistant major depression (TRD) in adults. Symbyax (olanzapine-fluoxetine combination or OFC), the combination of olanzapine and the selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine, is also approved for this indication. The short-term effectiveness of OFC for TRD is supported by results of five published randomized, controlled, acute-phase studies of generally similar design. In each study, OFC was associated with rapid reduction in depressive symptoms. In two studies, significantly greater improvement in depressive symptoms occurred in OFC-treated patients at study end point compared with those who received antidepressant monotherapy. These effects appeared to be strongest in cases where antidepressant failure was established during the current depressive episode. Although OFC was well-tolerated, increases in body weight and prolactin concentration were greater with OFC than antidepressant monotherapy, and were similar to olanzapine monotherapy. Increases in random total cholesterol levels were greatest for OFC, and were significantly greater than those of olanzapine and antidepressant monotherapy. The long-term efficacy and tolerability of OFC for TRD has not been investigated, and the comparative effectiveness of OFC versus other next-step options is unknown. As such, the exact place of OFC among the available therapeutic options for TRD is not fully understood at this time.
Synthesis of fully rotatable R-S-S-R linkages

Abstract Algebraic-geometrical techniques to design fully rotatable R-S-S-R linkages with transmission angle control are presented. The concept of upper bounding Cos μ where μ is the transmission angle, is used to obtain feasible regions for linkages with full input-link rotatability. The proposed feasible regions have algebraic boundaries. This concept was developed earlier for the precision synthesis of planar four-bar linkage and it has now been extended to the precision synthesis of R-S-S-R linkage.
Molecular Mechanisms of Axon Growth and Guidance

PROTEINS THAT PROMOTE NEURITE OUTGROWTH 119 Soh~ble Neurotrophic Agents 122 ECM Proteins 123 CAMs 124 Perspectives 126 RECEPTORS F THE GROWTH PROMOTERS 127 Neurotrophic Re eptors 127 ECM Receptors 128 CAM Receptom 128 Perspecth~es 129
Implementing distributed internet security using a firewall collaboration framework

Society has grown to rely on Internet services, and the number of Internet users increases every day. As more and more users become connected to the network, the window of opportunity for malicious users to do their damage becomes very great and lucrative. The computer industry is combating the rising threat of malicious activity with new hardware and software products such as intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, and firewalls. However, malicious users are constantly looking for ways to by-pass the security features of these products, and many times they will succeed. In order to enhance the capabilities of computer network security devices such as firewalls, the Distributed Network Applications Laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology is investigating the use of a distributed Internet security architecture known as the general network security collaboration framework (GNSCF). This paper describes a particular instance of the GNSCF using firewalls as the basic network element of the framework, and this system is referred to as a firewall collaboration framework (FCF).
A Curved Ray Camera for Handling Occlusions through Continuous Multiperspective Visualization

Most images used in visualization are computed with the planar pinhole camera. This classic camera model has important advantages such as simplicity, which enables efficient software and hardware implementations, and similarity to the human eye, which yields images familiar to the user. However, the planar pinhole camera has only a single viewpoint, which limits images to parts of the scene to which there is direct line of sight. In this paper we introduce the curved ray camera to address the single viewpoint limitation. Rays are C1-continuous curves that bend to circumvent occluders. Our camera is designed to provide a fast 3-D point projection operation, which enables interactive visualization. The camera supports both 3-D surface and volume datasets. The camera is a powerful tool that enables seamless integration of multiple perspectives for overcoming occlusions in visualization while minimizing distortions.
Autoimmunity associated with TGF-β1-deficiency in mice is dependent on MHC class II antigen expression

The progressive inflammatory process found in transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1)-deficient mice is associated with several manifestations of autoimmunity, including circulating antibodies to nuclear antigens, immune complex deposition, and increased expression of both class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens. The contribution of MHC class II antigens to the genesis of this phenotype has been determined by crossing the TGF-beta1-null [TGF-beta1(-/-)] genotype into the MHC class II-deficient [MHC-II(-/-)] background. Mice homozygous for both the TGF-beta1 null allele and the class II null allele [TGF-beta1(-/-);MHC-II(-/-)] are without evidence of inflammatory infiltrates, circulating autoantibodies, or glomerular immune complex deposits. Instead, these animals exhibit extensive extramedullary hematopoiesis with progressive splenomegaly and adenopathy, surviving only slightly longer than TGF-beta1(-/-);MHC-II(+/+) mice. The role of CD4+ T cells, which are also absent in MHC class II-deficient mice, is directly demonstrated through the administration of anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies in class II-positive, TGF-beta1(-/-) mice. The observed reduction in inflammation and improved survival emphasize the significance of CD4+ cells in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune process and suggest that the additional absence of class II antigens in TGF-beta1(-/-);MHC-II(-/-) mice may contribute to their extreme myeloid metaplasia. Thus, MHC class II antigens are essential for the expression of autoimmunity in TGF-beta1-deficient mice, and normally may cooperate with TGF-beta1 to regulate hematopoiesis.
Robust fitting for neuroreceptor mapping

Among many other uses, positron emission tomography (PET) can be used in studies to estimate the density of a neuroreceptor at each location throughout the brain by measuring the concentration of a radiotracer over time and modeling its kinetics. There are a variety of kinetic models in common usage and these typically rely on nonlinear least-squares (LS) algorithms for parameter estimation. However, PET data often contain artifacts (such as uncorrected head motion) and so the assumptions on which the LS methods are based may be violated. Quantile regression (QR) provides a robust alternative to LS methods and has been used successfully in many applications. We consider fitting various kinetic models to PET data using QR and study the relative performance of the methods via simulation. A data adaptive method for choosing between LS and QR is proposed and the performance of this method is also studied.
Casual Social Games as Serious Games: The Psychology of Gamification in Undergraduate Education and Employee Training

Gameification (or, gamification) is becoming an increasingly popular technique to motivate learners, yet little theory or empirical evidence is available to support its use. In the present chapter, instructional design in relation to games and gameification is explored, including discussion of the psychological determinants of learning. The extant research literatures surrounding online social media, learning-by-testing, and goal-setting theory are then integrated in order to provide a scientific rationale for gameification. The resulting integrative theory of gameification in learning suggests that students may learn more by completing tests than they do when studying, that students can be motivated to complete such tests by offering them social rewards in the form of carefully designed virtual badges, and that these badges should be offered in an online social context which students find meaningful in order to motivate them to action. To examine this integrative theory, an online social network with gameification elements was created and deployed in a Psychology department at a major east coast university in order to motivate students to complete optional online multiple choice quizzes. The system was highly successful; 29% of participants opted to complete gameified optional multiple choice quizzes and on average reported those quizzes as fun, enjoyable, and rewarding. This proof-of-concept study is discussed in terms of its implications for both undergraduate education and employee training, including a list of current “best practices” regarding social game implementation.
Immunocytochemical localization of three vesicular glutamate transporters in the cat retina

Vesicular transporters play an essential role in the packaging of glutamate for synaptic release and so are of particular importance in the retina, where glutamate serves as the neurotransmitter for photoreceptors, bipolar cells, and ganglion cells. In the present study, we have examined the distribution of the three known isoforms of vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) in the cat retina. VGLUT1 was localized to all photoreceptor and bipolar cells, whereas VGLUT2 was found in ganglion cells. This basic pattern of complementary distribution for the two transporters among known populations of glutamatergic cells is similar to previous findings in the brain and spinal cord. However, the axon terminals of S-cone photoreceptors were found to express both VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 and some ganglion cells labeled for both VGLUT2 and VGLUT3. Such colocalizations suggest the existence of dual modes of regulation of vesicular glutamate transport in these neurons. Staining for VGLUT2 was also present in a small number of varicose processes, which were seen to ramify throughout the inner plexiform layer. These fibers may represent axon collaterals of ganglion cells. The most prominent site of VGLUT3 immunoreactivity was in a population of amacrine cells; the axon terminals of B-type horizontal cells were also labeled at their contacts with rod spherules. The presence of the VGLUT3 transporter at sites not otherwise implicated in glutamate release may indicate novel modes of glutamate signaling or additional roles for the transporter molecule. J. Comp. Neurol. 475:518–530, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Worst case analysis in the frequency domain: The H &#8734; approach to control

This paper describes an approach to frequency domain design using Hxmethods. We outline the main tools available and describe how these methods can be applied to control problems and to some gain optimization problems in circuits. In particular, we present a new method for combining several competing constraints which arise in control (such as tracking error and bandwidth constraints) into a single type of constraint which H^{\infty} methods analyze explicitly. A computer program which implements and teaches this method is on tape for a VAX. It is available on request.
Studying protein fold evolution with hybrids of differently folded homologs

To study the sequence determinants governing protein fold evolution, we generated hybrid sequences from two homologous proteins with 40% identity but different folds: Pfl 6 Cro, which has a mixed α + β structure, and Xfaso 1 Cro, which has an all α-helical structure. First, we first examined eight chimeric hybrids in which the more structurally conserved N-terminal half of one protein was fused to the more structurally divergent C-terminal half of the other. None of these chimeras folded, as judged by circular dichroism spectra and thermal melts, suggesting that both halves have strong intrinsic preferences for the native global fold pattern, and/or that the interfaces between the halves are not readily interchangeable. Second, we examined 10 hybrids in which blocks of the structurally divergent C-terminal region were exchanged. These hybrids showed varying levels of thermal stability and suggested that the key residues in the Xfaso 1 C terminus specifying the all-α fold were concentrated near the end of helix 4 in Xfaso 1, which aligns to the end of strand 2 in Pfl 6. Finally, we generated hybrid substitutions for each individual residue in this critical region and measured thermal stabilities. The results suggested that R47 and V48 were the strongest factors that excluded formation of the α + β fold in the C-terminal region of Xfaso 1. In support of this idea, we found that the folding stability of one of the original eight chimeras could be rescued by back-substituting these two residues. Overall, the results show not only that the key factors for Cro fold specificity and evolution are global and multifarious, but also that some all-α Cro proteins have a C-terminal subdomain sequence within a few substitutions of switching to the α + β fold.
Molecular Recognition Mechanisms for Detecting Cell Death In Vivo

The noninvasive detection of cell death has significant diagnostic values. Molecular events in apoptosis and necrosis are a source of valuable surrogate markers for the detection of cell death. Two classes of imaging agents are being developed for imaging caspase activities and redistribution of membrane phospholipids, respectively. The current review looks at the molecular recognition mechanisms of existing and emerging agents in the physiological context of the surrogate markers. The imaging of caspase activities using substrate-derived agents has the advantage of high selectivity and can potentially allow the dissection of individual apoptotic pathways in vivo. The detection of membrane phospholipid redistribution using extracellular agents has the advantage of high target density and accessibility. The strength and limitations of each approach are discussed. Overall, in order to develop appropriate imaging techniques, it is important to understand the interactions between the agent and surogate markers on a molecular as well as physiological level. Such information is vital for fully appreciating the potential utilities of an imaging strategy.
Factors That Physicians Find Encouraging and Discouraging About Electronic Prescribing: a Quantitative Study

To determine factors that physicians find encouraging and discouraging about e-prescribing and to compare these factors based on physicians’ adoption status, a cross-sectional study was conducted using an internet-based survey administered to a national convenience sample of primary care physicians. A scale was developed to measure factors related to the adoption of e-prescribing. Analysis procedures included exploratory factor analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, and Tukey's post-hoc tests. 443 surveys were received and seven e-prescribing factors were identified. Pre-implementation and cost factors were found to be most discouraging, while software features were found to be most encouraging. The fact that current e-prescribers found e-prescribing factors to be more encouraging than future or non-e-prescribers suggests that ‘fear of the unknown’ may play a role in prescribers’ perceptions of e-prescribing and associated software. These findings will enable consultants, vendors, and policymakers to facilitate the adoption of e-prescribing by directly targeting the factors that are most salient to physicians.
Per panel photovoltaic energy extraction with multilevel output DC-DC switched capacitor converters

Switched capacitor multilevel output DC-DC converters are evaluated as panel integrated modules in a solar maximum power point tracking system. The recommended system includes a central input current-controlled ripple port inverter. Potential benefits include per panel MPPT without inter-panel communication, electrolytic capacitors or per panel magnetics. Statistical methods are used to predict average tracking and conversion efficiencies. A particular implementation of the switched capacitor module is studied — the Marx converter. Average total efficiencies (tracking × conversion) greater than 93% are predicted for a simulated 510 W, 3 panel, DC-DC system.
Development of the College Stress Inventory for Use with Hispanic Populations: A Confinnatory Analytic Approach:

A 21-item College Stress Inventory was developedfor use with Hispanic students using confirmatory factor analytic techniques with a sample of 164 Mexican American and Laino American college student...
Efficient Relational Learning with Hidden Variable Detection

Markov networks (MNs) can incorporate arbitrarily complex features in modeling relational data. However, this flexibility comes at a sharp price of training an exponentially complex model. To address this challenge, we propose a novel relational learning approach, which consists of a restricted class of relational MNs (RMNs) called relation tree-based RMN (treeRMN), and an efficient Hidden Variable Detection algorithm called Contrastive Variable Induction (CVI). On one hand, the restricted treeRMN only considers simple (e.g., unary and pairwise) features in relational data and thus achieves computational efficiency; and on the other hand, the CVI algorithm efficiently detects hidden variables which can capture long range dependencies. Therefore, the resultant approach is highly efficient yet does not sacrifice its expressive power. Empirical results on four real datasets show that the proposed relational learning method can achieve similar prediction quality as the state-of-the-art approaches, but is significantly more efficient in training; and the induced hidden variables are semantically meaningful and crucial to improve the training speed and prediction qualities of treeRMNs.
Epstein-Barr virus infection in Richter's transformation

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may convert to a diffuse large cell lymphoma (Richter's syndrome) over time. In occasional cases of Richter's transformation, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been identified in the lymphoma cells. To evaluate the association of EBV infection with Richter's syndrome, the biopsy specimens and clinical records of 25 patients who were seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1984-1996 were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of EBV by immunoperoxidase staining for expression of EBV latent membrane protein (LMP), as well as the expression of EBV RNA and DNA in the cells by in situ hybridization. Four of the 25 patients showed evidence of EBV in the diffuse large cell lymphoma cells-three patients with a B-cell phenotype were positive for LMP, EBV DNA, and RNA; and one patient with a T-cell phenotype had positive EBV RNA in the large cell lymphoma cells. The Richter's syndrome was treated with combination chemotherapy in 15 patients, three received radiotherapy, three were followed without further therapy after a splenectomy, two died before treatment could be started, and one patient had insufficient follow-up. One patient with evidence of EBV in large cell lymphoma cells was treated with acyclovir as initial therapy. The median survival of EBV-positive patients was three months compared with nine months for EBV-negative patients, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.385). Evidence for EBV infection related to Richter's transformation was present in 16% of the patients in this study and may be associated with a poorer outcome. Primary therapy with acyclovir in one patient did not seem to be beneficial and other therapeutic modalities in patients with EBV-positive Richter's transformation need to be explored.
Pressure-Based Clutch Control for Automotive Transmissions Using a Sliding-Mode Controller

Clutch shift control is critical for efficient and high-performance transmission designs, including automatic, dual clutch, and hybrid transmissions. To ensure a smooth clutch to clutch shift, appropriate controls for two consecutive processes are critical. One is the precise coordination between the on-coming and off-going clutches, which requires the on-coming clutch to be filled and ready for engagement at the predetermined time (clutch fill). The other is the proper torque control during clutch engagement. In this paper, we will investigate the closed-loop “wet” clutch control enabled by a pressure sensor in the clutch chamber. The main challenges of the pressure-based “wet” clutch control lie in the complex nonlinear dynamics due to the interactions between the fluid and the mechanical systems, the ON/OFF behavior of the clutch assembly, the time-varying clutch loading condition, the required short time duration for a precise and robust clutch shift, and the lack of the displacement information. To enable precise and robust pressure-based control, this paper focuses on the following three aspects. First, a clutch dynamic model is constructed and validated, which precisely captures the system dynamics in a wide pressure range. Second, a sliding-mode controller is designed to achieve robust pressure control while avoiding the chattering effect. Finally, an observer is constructed to estimate the clutch piston motion, which is not only a necessary term in the nonlinear controller design but also a diagnosis tool for the clutch fill process. To validate the proposed methods, a transmission clutch fixture has been designed and built in the laboratory. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed controller and observer.
Transient stability enhancement of multi-machine power system by parallel resonance type fault current limiter

This paper proposes the parallel resonance type fault current limiter (PRFCL) to enhance the transient stability of multi-machine power systems. The transient stability performance of the parallel resonance type FCL is compared with that of the bridge type fault current limiter (BFCL). The total kinetic energy (TKE) of the generators in the system is used to determine the transient stability enhancement index. Also, the critical clearing time has been presented as a stability limit. Simulations are performed by using the Matlab/Simulink software. Simulation results of both permanent and temporary faults at different points of the IEEE 39 bus power system indicate that the parallel resonance type FCL can enhance the transient stability of the system well. Also, the performance of the proposed parallel resonance type FCL is better than that of the bridge type FCL.
Energy Spread Reduction of Electron Beams Produced via Laser Wake

Laser wakefield acceleration of electrons holds great promise for producing ultra-compact stages of GeV scale, high quality electron beams for applications such as x-ray free electron lasers and high energy colliders. Ultra-high intensity laser pulses can be self-guided by relativistic plasma waves over tens of vacuum diffraction lengths, to give >1 GeV energy in cm-scale low density plasma using ionization-induced injection to inject charge into the wake at low densities. This thesis describes a series of experiments which investigates the physics of LWFA in the self-guided blowout regime. Beginning with high density gas jet experiments the scaling of the LWFA-produced electron beam energy with plasma electron density is found to be in excellent agreement with both phenomenological theory and with 3-D PIC simulations. It is also determined that self-trapping of background electrons into the wake exhibits a threshold as a function of the electron density, and at the densities required to produce electron beams with energies exceeding 1 GeV a different mechanism is required to trap charge into low density wakes. By introducing small concentrations of high-Z gas to the nominal He background the ionization-induced injection mechanism is enabled. Electron trapping is observed at densities as low as 1.3 xmore » 1018 cm-3 in a gas cell target, and 1.45 GeV electrons are demonstrated for the first time from LWFA. This is currently the highest electron energy ever produced from LWFA. The ionization-induced trapping mechanism is also shown to generate quasi-continuous electron beam energies, which is undesirable for accelerator applications. By limiting the region over which ionization-induced trapping occurs, the energy spread of the electron beams can be controlled. The development of a novel two-stage gas cell target provides the capability to tailor the gas composition in the longitudinal direction, and confine the trapping process to occur only in a limited, defined region. Using this technique a 460 MeV electron beam was produced with an energy spread of 5%. This technique is directly scalable to multi-GeV electron beam generation with sub-percent energy spreads.« less
DNA Polymerase III, but Not Polymerase IV, Must Be Bound to a τ-Containing DnaX Complex to Enable Exchange into Replication Forks

Examples of dynamic polymerase exchange have been previously characterized in model systems provided by coliphages T4 and T7. Using a dominant negative D403E polymerase (Pol) III α that can form initiation complexes and sequester primer termini but not elongate, we investigated the possibility of exchange at the Escherichia coli replication fork on a rolling circle template. Unlike other systems, addition of polymerase alone did not lead to exchange. Only when D403E Pol III was bound to a τ-containing DnaX complex did exchange occur. In contrast, addition of Pol IV led to rapid exchange in the absence of bound DnaX complex. Examination of Pol III* with varying composition of τ or the alternative shorter dnaX translation product γ showed that τ-, τ2-, or τ3-DnaX complexes supported equivalent levels of synthesis, identical Okazaki fragment size, and gaps between fragments, possessed the ability to challenge pre-established replication forks, and displayed equivalent susceptibility to challenge by exogenous D403E Pol III*. These findings reveal that redundant interactions at the replication fork must stabilize complexes containing only one τ. Previously, it was thought that at least two τs in the trimeric DnaX complex were required to couple the leading and lagging strand polymerases at the replication fork. Possible mechanisms of exchange are discussed.
Paleomagnetism: A Geophysical Tool for Bedrock Mapping and the Assessment of Fault Kinematics in Volcanic Terrains, Experience from Burney Spring Mountain, NE California

Bedrock mapping in volcanic terrains is a challenge, and generally requires extensive field mapping and petrographic and geochemical analysis. Paleomagnetism, when used in conjunction with field, geochemical and petrographic data offers a complimentary geophysical tool to field mapping, assisting in the correlation of lava flows across faults and aiding in determination of fault kinematics. Secular variation of the Earth’s magnetic field imprints individually distinguishable magnetic directions in igneous rocks emplaced >100 years apart, resulting in magnetic fingerprints that can be used to correlate lava flows across eroded areas, or that have been displaced by faulting or modified by weathering. A successful paleomagnetic study requires establishment of a well constrained magnetic direction for individual lava flows, against which structural corrections can be made for sample sites in rotated blocks. The resulting structural corrections provide insight into the mode and degree of movement along the fault since emplacement of the lava flows. This methodology is currently being applied to mapping a tectonically modified Pliocene-Pleistocene volcanic edifice, Burney Spring Mountain, within the Hat Creek Graben of northeastern California. The establishment of a general range of paleomagnetic directions for Burney Spring Mountain serves to distinguish between lava flows sourced from Burney Spring Mountain and those that overlap the edifice from surrounding volcanic vents. Paleomagnetic results have thus assisted in delineating the areal extent of Burney Spring Mountain and have furthermore revealed reactivation of what are observed in the field to be normal faults cross-cutting the mountain, as right-lateral strike-slip faults.
Experiments and numerical simulation on the broken conductors in transmission lines

A three continuous span transmission line section is established.For different types of conductors and ice thickness,conductors breaking experiments are carried out.Under different broken cases,time histories of the tensions and displacements at the middle of conductor spans are measured.The damping coefficients of the line section for different breaking cases are calculated.The dynamic impact factors of the conductor tensions are determined.The experimental results show that the impact effect is more significant for the location nearer to the breaking point.The dynamic impact factors decrease with the increasing of the ice thickness,and the impact factors of conductors without accreted ice are much higher than those of conductors with accreted ice.With the increasing of the ice thickness,the initial tensions before breaking as well as the ratios of the residual static tensions to the initial tensions increase.Nearly all the first peak tensions are close to the initial tensions for the breaking cases with accreted ice.The damping coefficients by the experimental identification are applied to the FEA model.The numerical simulations are performed for different breaking cases.Both the residual static tensions and the first peak tensions by the numerical simulations are well agreed with the experimental values.The maximum differences are 5.6 percentages and 12.9 percentages respectively.
Epidemiological and etiological characteristics of hand,foot and mouth disease in Shanghai,2009-2011

The present paper aims to investigate the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD)in Shanghai from 2009to 2011.The data from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System were analyzed.A total of 6 676clinical samples were collected and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was performed to determine the pathogens.The results showed that 18districts/counties had reported HFMD cases;The children ≤5years old were the most susceptible population;The peak of HFMD epidemic was from April to November;Human enterovirus 71(HEV71)and coxsackievirus A16(CA16)were the major pathogens for this epidemic,but the constituent ratio of HEV71and CA16 was different in different months and regions.Out of the 6 676 patients,4 647cases were positive for enterovirus by real-time RT-PCR,The positive rate was 69.61%. Among them 1 419were CA16(the overall positive rate of 21.26%)and 2 592were HEV71(the overall positive rate of 38.83%).257HEV71samples were cultured with human rhabdomyosarcoma(RD)cells, and 57HEV71strains were obtained and 27of these were subjected to sequence analysis.The complete sequences of VP1-encoding region in several identified HEV71strains were analyzed.BLAST sequence analysis showed that all the 27isolated HEV71strains from 2009to 2011were classified into C4a.
Discussion on Automotive Waterborne Colored Paint

The process,equipment and parameter adjustment of Shanghai GM implementing waterborne paint are introduced,meanwhile,some matters need attention in painting and how to prevent paint film defects are given.Practice showed that it difficult in controlling waterborne colored paint and better appearance than solvent colored paint can be obtained under perfect process condition.