cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IMP-8 observations of the spectra, composition, and variability of solar heavy ions at high energies relevant to manned space missions

Abstract In more than 25 years of almost continuous observations, the University of Chicago’s Cosmic Ray Telescope (CRT) on IMP-8 has amassed a unique database on high-energy solar heavy ions of potential relevance to manned spaceflight. In the very largest particle events, IMP-8 /CRT has even observed solar Fe ions above the Galactic cosmic ray background up to ∼800 MeV/nucleon, an energy sufficiently high to penetrate nearly 25 g/cm 2 of shielding. IMP-8 /CRT observations show that high-energy heavy-ion spectra are often surprisingly hard power laws, without the exponential roll-offs suggested by stochastic acceleration fits to lower energy measurements alone. Also, in many solar particle events the Fe/O ratio grows with increasing energy, contrary to the notion that ions with higher mass-to-charge ratios should be less abundant at higher energies. Previous studies of radiation hazards for manned spaceflight have often assumed heavy-ion composition and steeply-falling energy spectra inconsistent with these observations. Conclusions based on such studies should therefore be re-assessed. The significant event-to-event variability observed in the high-energy solar heavy ions also has important implications for strategies in building probabilistic models of solar particle radiation hazards.
Nonpharmacologic Management of Supraventricular Tachycardia

This paper reviews three recent large scale studies on the use of catheter ablation for elderly patients with supraventricular tachycardia. These patients underwent catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction for control of atrial fibrillation, ablation of the slow atrioventricular nodal pathway for those with atrioventricular nodal, reentry tachycardia, and ablation of the accessary pathway for those with atrioventricular reentry tachycardia. There was a higher incidence of atrioventricular junctional ablation and lesser incidence of junctional tachycardia compared to other series involving younger individuals. There was no significant difference in the incidence of successful procedures comparing the elderly with younger patients. In addition, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects between the two groups. In summary, catheter ablation appears to be safe and effective for elderly patients and the procedure should not be omitted solely on the basis of patient age. (c) 2000 by CVRR, Inc.
Implications of short-term PCB uptake by small estuarine copepods (genus Acartia) from PCB-contaimined water, inorganic sediments and phytoplankton

PCB uptake by adult copepods of the genus Acartia exposed to 14 C-labeled PCB-contaminated water, inorganic suspended sediments, and phytoplankton was determined. PCB uptake from water and inorganic particles followed an asymptotic function, with apparent equilibrium values reached after about 36 h. Copepods fed PCB-contaminated phytoplankton showed a substantial increase in PCB accumulation relative to unfed copepods, despite similar PCB concentrations in the water. Significantly greater mortality was observed among copepods fed contaminated phytoplankton than among copepods without phytoplankton. These experiments indicate that phytoplankton provide an important vehicle for PCB uptake at the herbivore trophic level.
AFS Seeks Comment on Lead in Sport Fishing Tackle Policy

Through the actions of the Resource Policy Committee, AFS develops Society positions on specific resource issues—policy statements—via a process outlined on its web page (http://www.fisheries.org/a...
Thin-film thermocouples and strain-gauge technologies for engine applications

Abstract Advanced thin-film sensor techniques that can provide accurate surface strain and temperature measurements are being developed at NASA Lewis Research Center. These sensors are needed to provide minimally intrusive characterization of advanced materials (such as ceramics and composites) and structures (such as components for Space Shuttle main engine, high-speed civil transport, and general aviation aircraft) in hostile, high-temperature environments, and for validation of design codes. This paper presents two advanced thin-film sensor technologies: strain gauges and thermocouples. These sensors are sputter deposited directly onto the test articles and are only a few micrometers thick; the surface of the test article is not structurally altered and there is minimal disturbance of the gas flow over the surface. The strain gauges are palladium-13% chromium based and the thermocouples are platinum-13% rhodium versus platinum. The fabrication techniques of these thin-film sensors in a class 1000 cleanroom at the NASA Lewis Research Center are described. Their demonstration on a variety of engine materials, including superalloys, ceramics, and advanced ceramic matrix composites, in several hostile, high-temperature test environments is discussed.
Equilibrium dynamics in a forced-dissipative f -plane shallow-water system

The equilibrium dynamics in a homogeneous forced-dissipative f-plane shallow-water system is investigated through numerical simulations. In addition to classical two-dimensional turbulence, inertio-gravity waves also exist in this system. The dynamics is examined by decomposing the full flow field into a dynamically balanced potential-vortical component and a residual ‘free’ component. Here the potential-vortical component is defined as part of the flow that satisfies the gradient-wind balance equation and that contains all the linear potential vorticity of the system. The residual component is found to behave very nearly as linear inertio-gravity waves. The forcing employed is a mass and momentum source balanced so that only the large-scale potential-vortical component modes are directly excited. The dissipation is provided by a linear relaxation applied to the large scales and by an eighth-order linear hyperdiffusion. The statistical properties of the potential-vortical component in the fully developed flow were found to be very similar to those of classical two-dimensional turbulence. In particular, the energy spectrum of the potential-vortical component at scales smaller than the forcing is close to the ∼ k−3 expected for a purely two-dimensional system. Detailed analysis shows that the downscale enstrophy cascade into any wavenumber is dominated by very elongated triads involving interactions with large scales. Although not directly forced, a substantial amount of energy is found in the inertio-gravity modes and interactions among inertio-gravity modes are principally responsible for transferring energy to the small scales. The contribution of the inertio-gravity modes to the flow leads to a shallow tail at the high-wavenumber end of the total energy spectrum. For parameters roughly appropriate for the midlatitude atmosphere (notably Rossby number ∼ 0.5), the break between the roughly ∼ k−3 regime and this shallower regime occurs at scales of a few hundred km. This is similar to the observed mesoscale regime in the atmosphere. The nonlinear interactions among the inertio-gravity modes are extremely broadband in spectral space. The implications of this result for the subgrid-scale closure in the shallow-water model are discussed.
Ask the Experts: Axillary dissection in women with invasive breast cancer and sentinel node metastasis: is the extent of axillary surgery critical to the cure of breast cancer?

Elizabeth Mittendorf is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (TX, USA). She obtained her medical degree at Case Western Reserve University (OH, USA) where she remained for her general surgery training before completing a fellowship in surgical oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She focuses her clinical and laboratory efforts on the study of breast cancer with a specific interest in breast cancer immunotherapy. She is the principal investigator on a number of clinical trials including: the Phase III PRESENT trial investigating the NeuVax™ vaccine; a Phase II trial investigating two HER2-derived breast cancer vaccines; and a Phase I trial evaluating combination immunotherapy with a vaccine and trastuzumab. Her laboratory work is focused on identifying novel tumor antigens. She has extensively published on immunotherapy, as well as on subjects related to the clinical management of breast cancer. Aysegul Sahin is an internationa...
Intersystem Access Control Protocol Description

This paper describes one layer in the Intersystem protocol hierarchy, which is a mechanism for internetworking among existing and planned military satellite communication systems. With this mechanism, the combined systems form a world-wide satellite communication network serving tens of thousands of end users, many of whom are mobile, using many different communication link protocols. Since the interconnection of separate communication systems via the Intersystem is not allowed to change their internal structure or communication protocols, the Intersystem protocol hierarchy is primarily a common set of higher layer coordination protocols that will overlay the existing protocols in each member system. This paper describes the higher layer coordination protocols.
Law Under and After Apartheid: Abel's Sociolegal Analysis

It is a rare event when a single academic work and a particular analytical method help shape the way a nation understands its past. Richard Abel's Politics by Other Means, which employs a sociolegal analysis to reveal the roles of law under apartheid, has achieved this distinction. Many South African lawyers, judges, and academics submitted arguments to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) "institutional hearing" on the role of the legal community and law under apartheid. Abel alone, however, is cited in the final report as the source of the Commission's conclusion-which acknowledges the contradictory roles and pervasive complicity of the law in the creation and endurance of the apartheid system. The TRC read its mandate fairly narrowly-to investigate the violation of human rights and to provide a means, through establishing truth and granting amnesties, for the society to move beyond the crimes of apartheid. Nevertheless, it took a significant step when it decided to hold a hearing in an "attempt to understand the role the legal system played in contributing to the violation and/or protection of human rights" during the apartheid period. In so doing the TRC joined the long-standing debate over the "rule of law" under apartheid. Unlike the academic debate, however, the TRC was faced with the duty to make findings and even recommendations based on the submissions it received.
A Enunciação Aforizante: o caso do gênero manifesto

Dominique Maingueneau, em alguns de seus trabalhos, define dois regimes de enunciacao distintos: o textualizante e o aforizante. O regime de enunciacao aforizante "destextualiza" o texto, por se caracterizar como um processo que tenta minar a compacidade e a dinâmica de textualizacao. Com base nesse conceito - e levando-o as ultimas consequencias -, o intuito deste artigo e analisar um conjunto de manifestos modernistas brasileiros a fim de demonstrar a plausibilidade da hipotese de que esse genero do discurso pode ser considerado um genero aforizante, na medida em que se vale, recorrentemente e de maneira abundante, de aforizacoes.
Treatment of 100 patients with primary amyloidosis: A randomized trial of melphalan, prednisone, and colchicine versus colchicine only

Purpose A clinical trial designed to test whether treatment with melphalan, prednisone, and colchicine (MPC) is superior to colchicine (C) alone was performed in patients with primary amyloidosis (AL), a nonmalignant plasma cell dyscrasia. Patients and methods Patients were randomized to MPC or C with stratification according to sex, time from diagnosis to study entry (ie, less than 3 months or 3 to 12 months), and dominant organ system involvement (ie, cardiac, renal, neurologic, or other). Data were gathered monthly from patients, quarterly from physicians, and annually in the Clinical Research Center. One hundred consecutive patients with AL amyloidosis admitted between 1987 and 1992 who met eligibility requirements were treated and followed for a minimum of 18 months. Fifty patients (group A) received daily oral colchicine and 50 patients (group B) received cycles of oral melphalan and prednisone every 6 weeks for 1 year as well as colchicine. Results The principal outcome measure was median survival, which was compared in the two treatment groups and in the subgroups. The overall survival of all patients from study entry was 8.4 months. Comparing group A (C) to group B (MPC), the survival was 6.7 months versus 12.2 months ( P = 0.087). Both treatment groups had poor survival for patients in the cardiac subgroup, longest survival in the renal group, and significant differences favoring MPC treatment only in patients whose major system manifestations were neurologic ( P = 0.037) or other ( P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis showed a strongly significant treatment effect ( P = 0.003) and improved survival associated with not having cardiac or gastrointestinal involvement. Conclusions MPC was advantageous for patients whose major manifestations of amyloid disease were other than cardiac or renal. Better survival regardless of treatment was noted in patients for whom a satisfactory supportive treatment such as transplant or dialysis exists for their organ failure.
A role for transcription factor STAT3 signaling in oncogene smoothened-driven carcinogenesis.

Activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is known to drive development of basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastomas and to associate with many other types of cancer, but the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis process remain elusive. We discovered that skin tumors derived from epidermal expression of oncogenic Smo, SmoM2, have elevated levels of IL-11, IL-11Rα, and STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr705. The relevance of our data to human conditions was reflected by the fact that all human basal cell carcinomas examined have detectable STAT3 phosphorylation, mostly in keratinocytes. The functional relevance of STAT3 in Smo-mediated carcinogenesis was revealed by epidermal specific knockout of STAT3. We showed that removal of STAT3 from mouse epidermis dramatically reduced SmoM2-mediated cell proliferation, leading to a significant decrease in epidermal thickness and tumor development. We also observed a significant reduction of epidermal stem/progenitor cell population and cyclin D1 expression in mice with epidermis-specific knockout of STAT3. Our evidence indicates that STAT3 signaling activation may be mediated by the IL-11/IL-11Rα signaling axis. We showed that tumor development was reduced after induced expression of SmoM2 in IL-11Rα null mice. Similarly, neutralizing antibodies for IL-11 reduced the tumor size. In two Hh-responsive cell lines, ES14 and C3H10T1/2, we found that addition of Smo agonist purmorphamine is sufficient to induce STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr705, but this effect was abolished after IL-11Rα down-regulation by shRNAs. Taken together, our results support an important role of the IL-11Rα/STAT3 signaling axis for Hh signaling-mediated signaling and carcinogenesis.
The Opinion Factor: The Effects of Opinionated News on Information Processing and Attitude Change

The recent growth in opinionated cable news, in which the anchor expresses a clear political point of view, has aroused concerns about its potential polarizing effects on public opinion. Key to uncovering opinionated news' impact on public opinion is an understanding of how partisan audiences process opinionated news: Do the overt partisan cues in opinionated news stimulate biased processing, thereby enhancing attitude polarization among opposing partisans relative to non-opinionated news? Or are opinionated news messages processed uniformly by partisans, contributing to direct persuasion? Two online experiments tested the effects of news opinionation—and interactions with individual political partisanship—on information processing and attitude change. Results from both studies most clearly support a model of direct persuasion. Message processing and attitude change follow the direction of the news' opinionation, with little variation by partisanship, offering no evidence that opinionated news intensifies...
Increasing Mean Skin Temperature Linearly Reduces the Core- temperature Thresholds for Vasoconstriction and Shivering in Humans

BackgroundThe contribution of mean skin temperature to the thresholds for sweating and active precapillary vasodilation has been evaluated in numerous human studies. In contrast, the contribution of skin temperature to the control of cold responses such as arteriovenous shunt vasoconstriction and sh
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and its Applications to Physiological Problems

It is an exciting time to witness the explosive increase in biomedical and physio logical applications of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The power of this technique resides in many factors, not the least of which is its applicability to numerous systems and problems. Because of the nature of the technique, most biologically oriented research groups contain scientists from diverse backgrounds including physicists, physiologists, and physicians. The collaboration between these diverse specialties into similar object ives adds to the excitement of working in this field. Biological NMR studies have clearly matured beyond the stage where it was "a technique in search of a problem": a common criticism heard in earlier days. The following chapters iterate the unique and novel information pro­ vided by this technique. To maximize our coverage, this section is divided into five chapters that represent the current field of biological NMR research. In this chapter, the basic concepts of NMR common to all levels of applica­ tion are introduced. The ensuing chapters cover the application of NMR to studies of macromolecules, cells, organs, and organisms, respectively. These applications each require specific armamentaria of techniques.
Effect of root temperature on plant response functions for tomato: comparison of static and dynamic salinity stress indices

The agronomic study of plant response to salinity uses root zone salinity as a primary treatment variable. Root zone salinity is a static index in that its value does not depend on any variable factors in the soil-plant-air continuum (SPAC) that simultaneously affect growth. In order to take into account the effect of variable parameters in the SPAC, the concept of a dynamic index was introduced and defined as the salt flux to the shoot relative to growth rate. The objective of this study was to compare the variability of these two indices as measures of salt tolerance in different environments and to ascertain which correlative variable is more directly linked to yield reduction; root zone salinity, a static index, or ion flux to the shoot, a dynamic index. This was accomplished by comparing the root temperature dependence of threshold values for each index respectively. Yield response to salinity was obtained for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. Heinz 1350-vf) at two root temperatures, 18 °C and 25 °C, using 14 levels of salinity, 0 to 140 mM Cl, with a 2:1 Na-Ca ratio. Based on parametric analysis, the root zone chloride concentration threshold was increased 92% over the root temperature studied. In contrast, the threshold values of the dynamic indices were not statistically different at the two root temperatures. Plant shoot chloride concentration factor, expressed as the ratio of salt concentration in the shoot to salt concentration in the nutrient solution, decreased exponentially from 8 to 2 with increasing root zone salinity and was independent of temperature. Water use exhibited a strong temperature dependence and showed a sharp decline at root zone salinities corresponding to root zone salinity threshold values. Root/shoot ratio was independent of root zone salinity at least up to 80 mM Cl, and was significantly higher at the lower root temperature. It was concluded that root zone osmotic potential is not the fundamental causative factor determining the onset of yield reduction for the two temperatures studied, and that other elements related to growth and ion transport combine to determine a threshold value. These results indicate that it is a critical value of the salt flux to the shoot in relation to shoot growth rate that determines the onset of yield reduction and therefore is related more to the average salinity in the shoot than the average root zone salinity. This is evidence that specific biochemical mechanisms responsible for yield reduction reside in the shoot.
Recovery in Web service applications

Web service technology is changing the Internet to a platform of applications collaboration and integration. Reliability is a critical requirement for this platform. The main goal of failure recovery is to assure that minimum work is lost and normal execution can be continued. We look at the issue of failure recovery in Web services management systems, and propose an infrastructure to implement failure recovery capabilities in the Web services management systems.
Increases in tobacco exposure biomarkers measured in non-smokers exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke under controlled conditions

National surveys of the exposure of non-smokers to secondhand smoke based on serum cotinine analyses have consistently identified certain groups within the population including children, males and non-Hispanic Blacks as having relatively greater exposure. Although these differences in mean serum cotinine concentrations probably represent differences in exposure of individuals in their daily lives, it is also possible that metabolic or other differences in response might influence the results. To better define the nature of those findings, we have examined the response of 40 non-smokers including both men and women and African-Americans and whites to sidestream (SS) cigarette smoke generated by a smoking machine under controlled conditions. In this study, participants were exposed to aged, diluted SS smoke (ADSS) generated in an environmental chamber with a mean air nicotine concentration of 140 μg m−3 and 8.6 ppm CO for 4 h. Salivary cotinine was measured every 30 min, and serum cotinine samples were take...
The Neural Basis of Salt Sensitivity in the Rat: Altered Hypothalamic Function

Dietary NaCl supplementation in NaCl-sensitive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-S) elevates blood pressure, increases peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity and depresses endogenous noradrenaline stores and noradrenaline release in the anterior hypothalamus. NaCl-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-R) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats are resistant to the NaCl-induced alterations in blood pressure and central and peripheral noradrenergic activity, suggesting that the alterations observed in the1 SHR-S during NaCl loading are genetically mediated. The anterior hypothalamus is a major cardiovascular regulatory region, and depressor responses elicited by pharmacologic (α2 adrenoceptor) stimulation of this area are exaggerated in SHR-S fed a high NaCl diet compared with SHR-S fed a basal diet and compared with SHR-R and WKY fed a high or basal NaCl diet. Membrane-binding techniques confirm that α2adrenoceptors in the anterior hypothalamic area are increased in number in SHR-S fed a high NaCl diet, presumably reflecting upregulation in response to reduced local noradrenaline release. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that decreased noradrenergic activity of sympathoinhibifory neurons in the anterior hypothalamic area may mediate the exacerbation in hypertension that occurs in SHR-S during dietary NaCl supplementation.
Survival of T4aN0 and T3N+ laryngeal cancer patients: a retrospective institutional study and systematic review

Abstract Objective We aim to assess the correlation of tumor and nodal staging to survival in pT3N + and T4aN0 laryngeal cancer with subgroup analysis within stage IVa (pT4N0 and pT3N2). Study design Retrospective cohort study with systematic review of the literature. Setting Hotel Dieu de France University Hospital (tertiary referral center). Subjects and methods Laryngeal cancer patients’ registries were reviewed from 1998 to 2012 selecting pT3N + and pT4aN0 patients treated by primary total layngectomy. Overall survivals were compared using Log rank and Kaplan–Meier analysis. A systematic review was performed by 2 reviewers including all the articles reporting the outcome of these categories of patients. Online databases, including PubMed and EMBASE, were used. Reference sections of identified studies were examined for additional articles. Results Thirteen T3N + patients and 19 T4aN0 patients treated by primary total laryngectomy were included. Five-year overall survival for T3N +, T3N2 and T4aN0 was respectively 33%, 32.1% and 73.7%. Due to the small sample, the difference was not significant. The systematic review revealed three articles reporting overall survival outcome for the T4N0 group and 6 articles for the T3N +. At 5 years, the survival ranged from 62.5% to 73% in T4N0 and from 32.2% to 77% in T3N +. Conclusion In advanced stage laryngeal cancer, T4aN0 tends toward a better survival than T3N + especially when compared to T3N2 although they are grouped in the same TNM stage IVa.
Guest Editorial Electro-Optical Imaging

Electro-optical imaging has extended man's capability to observe his world beyond the dreams of science fiction writers of just one generation ago. Man has placed his eyes on the surface of the moon, Venus, and Mars-spacecrafts took fascinating closeup pictures of Mercury and Jupiter. Who was not awed by seeing the earth rising above the rugged mountain ranges of the moon?
X Views and Counting Interest in Rape-Oriented Pornography as Gendered Microaggression

Academics and activists called to attention decades prior the importance of identifying, analyzing, and tracking the transmission of attitudes, behaviors, and norms correlated with violence against women. A specific call to attention reflected the media as a mode of transmission. This research builds on prior studies of media, with an emphasis on Internet search queries. Using Google search data, for the period 2004 to 2012, this research provides regional analysis of associated interest in rape-oriented pornography and pornographic hubs. Results indicate minor regional variations in interest, including the use of “BDSM” or “bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadomasochism” as a foundational query for use in trend analysis. Interest in rape-oriented pornography by way of pornographic hubs is discussed in the context of microaggression.
Validation: Never an Endpoint: A Systems Development Life Cycle Approach to Good Clinical Practice

Systems development is at the beginning of its life as a scientific discipline. The pharmaceutical industry has a clear requirement to use validated systems in clinical trials. Validation cannot be regarded as a single event. A systems development life cycle methodology can integrate validation into the design and implementation of a system, matching validation activities with the life cycle of the system. PRA International, Inc. has implemented a system development life cycle developed using the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers standards on software engineering as a guide.
A PCM to PWM conversion stage resolution enhancement architecture

This paper proposes a method for increasing the resolution of digital-input pulse code modulation (PCM) to pulse width modulation (PWM) converters without increasing the maximum clock frequency of the system. The overall resolution increase is accomplished by means of a feed-forward path from an error generating stage to an N-bit multiplexer as a control signal. The input to the multiplexer is N sequentially delayed versions of the generated PWM signal, with each delay being an equal fraction of the sample period. The system output pulse edge is then no longer confined to the edge of the clock, but can now exist at any of the 1/N subdivisions through the choice of multiplexer input lines thus yielding an overall N times increase in perceived output resolution. The proposed system can be utilized for increasing the resolution of current designs or to decrease clock frequencies without sacrificing output resolution. The proposed system is extremely robust, in that any deviation from the desired single stage delay will be compensated by same delay occurring on the opposite pulse edge. This results in a shift of the overall pulse train which does not affect the duty cycle and therefore does not affect the signal. Simulations based on SIMULINK are used to verify the system architecture and the theory presented.
Development of a new arbitrary waveform defibrillator for cardiac electrophysiology research

The innovative arbitrary waveform defibrillator for animal research presented in this paper is based on two power linear amplifiers in bridge configuration. It is capable of delivering 10J shocks of arbitrary shape and duration. The system can be used to test new waveforms by comparing them to traditional ones, in in-vitro experiments. The system is battery operated, has an isolated output, and is PC controlled. Loads with impedance ranging from 10 to 25 ohms can be connected. A maximum of +/−130 V, 10A can be delivered to the loads. Effective voltage and current are measured and collected in the PC. Examples of waveforms as well as preliminary results from experiments of isolated rabbit hearts are presented.
Improving Recall and Precision of a Personalized Semantic Search Engine for E-learning

The main objective of this paper is to propose and evaluate an architecture that provides, manages, and collects data that permit high levels of adaptability and relevance to the user profiles. In addition, we implement this architecture on a platform called HyperManyMedia. To achieve this objective, an approach for personalized search is implemented that takes advantage of the semantic Web standards (RDF and OWL) to represent the content and the user profiles. The framework consists of the following phases: (1) building the semantic E-learning domain using the known college and course information as concept and sub-concept, (2) generating the semantic user profiles as ontologies, (3) clustering the documents to discover more refined sub-concepts, (4) reranking the user’s search results based on his/her profile, and (5) providing the user with semantic recommendations. The implementation of the ontologies models is separate from the design and implementation of the information retrieval system, thus providing a modular framework that is easy to adapt and port to other platforms. Finally, the experimental results show that the user context can be effectively used for improving the precision and recall in E-learning search, particularly by re-ranking the search results based on the user profiles.
Declaration of Sentiments

Little ballerina dressed for the stage aglow in pink tulle— why are you here, instead walking this woodland path? You stop to practice your steps turning on wood chips as if they were rose petals t...
The Use of Immunofluorescent Techniques In Diagnosis of Clinical Histoplasmosis

The need for improved diagnosis in human histoplasmosis stimulated the adaptation of immunofluorescent methods to the identification of H. capsulatum in cultures and biopsies from patients. Three illustrative cases are presented in which early diagnosis was improved by application of this technique.
Diet Selection Exhibited by Juvenile and Adult Lifestages of the Omnivores Western Tarnished Plant Bug, Lygus hesperus and Tarnished Plant Bug, Lygus lineolaris

Lygus hesperus Knight and Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Heteroptera: Miridae) are economically important plant bugs on many crops worldwide. However, these omnivores are also facultative predators on a wide variety of insects. This study was conducted to quantify and compare herbivory and carnivory exhibited among different lifestages of these two insect pests. The feeding activity of a total of 422 individuals was observed for 1 h each in feeding arenas containing a cotton leaf disk and copious amounts of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) eggs, nymphs and adults. The L. hesperus and L. lineolaris lifestages examined included adults and 3rd, 4th and 5th instar nymphs. Plant feeding occupied the majority of both species' time budget, regardless of the species or lifestage examined. There was a tendency for L. lineolaris lifestages to feed more often and for longer duration on plant tissue than L. hesperus. All lifestages of both species rarely fed on B. tabaci, but when they did, they preferred nymphs > adults > eggs. There were only a few cases where there were significant differences in predation rates and prey handling times exhibited among lifestages and between species, but juvenile L. hesperus tended to be more predaceous than juvenile L. lineolaris on whitefly nymphs and adults and 5thinstar and adult L. lineolaris were significantly more herbaceous than their L. hesperus counterparts. In addition, the younger individuals of both species tended to have greater prey handling times than their older counterparts. The significance of these findings is discussed.
Refurbishing State Capitalism: A Policy Analysis of Efforts to Rebalance China’s Political Economy

This article provides an analysis of policy initiatives aimed at rebalancing China’s political economy, especially those contained in the 12th Five Year Plan and other recent pronouncements. The objective is to generate a conceptual examination of these policy measures, thereby highlighting their basic intent and purpose. The analysis shows that the Chinese leadership intends to pursue policies that can centralize, standardize and regulate the political economy under continued state guidance. Due to the considerable political obstacles that Chinese policy-makers face in rebalancing the political economy, a more state-centric approach is seen as necessary. China is therefore pursuing a policy package of refurbishing state capitalism. While a degree of liberalization is likely to be undertaken, the major thrust is one of revamping, restructuring and, ultimately, strengthening state control and guidance over the political economy.
Microstructure and Microchemistry of Tungsten and Tungsten Compound Reactions with Aluminum Nitride Substrates

A clear understanding of the bonding process in the cofired tungsten-aluminum nitride (W-AIN) metallized system is not currently available. Therefore, in an attempt to obtain a fuller understanding of this process, reactions between metallic W, tungsten trioxide (WO3), and calcium tungstate (CaWO4) with aluminum nitride have been studied using a variety of electron microscopy techniques. The observed reaction was found to be similar in all cases, resulting in the formation of metallic tungsten particles within the AIN substrates. A reaction sequence is proposed to explain adhesion in the W-AIN metallized system; thermodynamic calculations support the proposed reaction sequence. The adhesion in this system is due to both a mechanical fastening by an interlocking and a chemical precipitation reaction. Finally thermal conductivity measurements across the interface have been made to assess the ability of the interface to transfer heat.
Detection of proteins and bacteria using an array of feedback capacitance sensors.

Abstract An integrated array of micron-dimension capacitors, originally developed for biometric applications (fingerprint identification), was engineered for detection of biological agents such as proteins and bacteria. This device consists of an array of 93,184 (256 × 364) individual capacitor-based sensing elements located underneath a thin (0.8 μm) layer of glass. This glass layer can be functionalized with organosilane-based monolayers to provide groups amenable for the immobilization of bioreceptors such as antibodies, enzymes, peptides, aptamers, and nucleotides. Upon functionalization with antibodies and in conjunction with signal amplification schemes that result in perturbation of the dielectric constant around the captured antigens, this system can be used as a detector of biological agents. Two signal amplification schemes were tested in this work: one consisted of 4 μm diameter latex immunobeads and a second one was based on colloidal gold catalyzed reduction of silver. These signal amplification approaches were demonstrated and show that this system is capable of specific detection of bacteria ( Escherichia coli ) and proteins (ovalbumin). The present work shows proof-of-principle demonstration that a simple fingerprint detector based on feedback capacitance measurements can be implemented as a biosensor. The approach presented could be easily expanded to simultaneously test for a large number of analytes and multiple samples given that this device has a large number of detectors. The device and required instrumentation is highly portable and does not require expensive and bulky instrumentation because it relies purely on electronic detection.
Genotype × Environmental Interactions on Reproductive Traits of Bovine Females. III. Seasonal Variation in Postpartum Reproduction as Influenced by Genotype, Suckling and Dietary Regimen

Summary We examined the effect of season of calving (winter = October to March, summer = April to September) on postpartum reproductive traits by analyzing six data sets in which cows calved throughout the year. In two experiments, with suckled and nonsuckled cows, animals that calved in winter had longer (P<.O1) intervals from parturition to first estrus (IE) than those that calved in summer. Multiple regression analysis [model; IE = y + bl (calving date) + b2 (calving date) 2 ] indicated that the relationship between calving date and IE was less for nonsuckled cows than for suckled cows because there was heterogeneity of regression (P<.O05) between groups. A similar seasonal difference
Hammer and anvil: The threat of a cross-layer jamming-aided data control attack in multihop wireless networks

This paper considers potential risks to data security in multi-hop infrastructureless wireless networks where cross-layer routing protocols are used. We show that an adversary, as long as it controls a few of the nodes, and with the help of a few assisting jammers, can extend control over a significant portion of the data in the network even with very simple strategies and limited resources, by creating a so-called “wormhole” even without off-band links. We refer to this jamming-assisted data control threat as hammer and anvil attack. We model a prototype of the hammer and anvil attack in a wireless sensor network scenario with distributed cross-layer routing protocols. We show through extensive performance evaluation that the attack poses a serious threat to the resulting data security, and we provide observations that can be helpful in fine-tuning the attack, as well as in designing defense mechanisms against it.
Production of bacterial cellulose with controlled deuterium-hydrogen substitution for neutron scattering studies.

Abstract Isotopic enrichment of biomacromolecules is a widely used technique that enables the investigation of the structural and dynamic properties to provide information not accessible with natural abundance isotopic composition. This study reports an approach for deuterium incorporation into bacterial cellulose. A media formulation for growth of Acetobacter xylinus subsp. sucrofermentans and Gluconacetobacter hansenii was formulated that supports cellulose production in deuterium (D) oxide. The level of D incorporation can be varied by altering the ratio of deuterated and protiated glycerol used during cell growth in the D 2 O-based growth medium. Spectroscopic analysis and mass spectrometry show that the level of deuterium incorporation is high (> 90%) for the perdeuterated form of bacterial cellulose. The small-angle neutron scattering profiles of the cellulose with different amounts of D incorporation are all similar indicating that there are no structural changes in the cellulose due to substitution of deuterium for hydrogen. In addition, by varying the amount of deuterated glycerol in the media it was possible to vary the scattering length density of the deuterated cellulose. The ability to control deuterium content of cellulose extends the range of experiments using techniques such as neutron scattering to reveal information about the structure and dynamics of cellulose, and its interactions with other biomacromolecules as well as synthetic polymers used for development of composite materials.
Use of the Assessment–Diagnosis–Treatment–Outcomes Model to Improve Patient Care

ABSTRACTObjectives: The primary aim of this review was to compare and contrast the principles of the Assessment–Diagnosis–Treatment–Outcomes (ADTO) model with clinical prediction rules, shared decision making, and practice guidelines and provide a framework for validating medical simulations. Methods: Comparing and contrasting the various methods and tools used by the clinical community and patients to help make informed decisions regarding health care options. Results: The ADTO model provides an excellent theoretical framework to analyze and conceptualize the interrelationships between clinicians and patients as they go through the process of determining best practices. However, the ADTO model may be too comprehensive to implement within any given clinical prediction rule or hypothetical-construct-oriented medical simulation, at least at this point in the development of these fields. Conclusions: The way forward for developing substantive medical simulations that will tie together complex constructs is t...
The association between systemic sclerosis disease manifestations and esophageal high-resolution manometry parameters

Background We aimed to evaluate the associations between systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related systemic manifestations and esophageal function using high-resolution manometry (HRM). Methods Patients with SSc that had undergone HRM between 1/2004 and 9/2014 were identified and HRMs were analyzed according to the Chicago Classification. Clinical characteristics were identified via retrospective chart review and compared among motility diagnoses while adjusting for age, gender, race, and SSc-disease duration. Key Results Seventy-nine patients (85% female, ages 25–77) were included. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients with absent contractility (AC, n = 40), ineffective esophageal motility (IEM; n = 15), and normal motility (n = 19); the five remaining patients met criteria for other motility diagnoses. Groups differed in severity of skin involvement measured by the modified Rodnan skin score (0–51): AC (adjusted mean 12.6), IEM (4.4), normal (4.3), p = 0.043. Pulmonary function tests [percent predicted FVC and DLCO) were lower in AC (adjusted mean, FVC: 70.3, DLCO 51.1), than IEM (FVC: 92.0; DLCO: 76.9) and normal motility (FVC: 80.0; DLCO: 67.2), p values 0.057 (FVC) and 0.007 (DLCO). Groups did not differ by SSc-disease duration, autoantibodies, or reported symptoms of dysphagia or reflux. Conclusions & Inferences In patients with SSc, absent esophageal contractility on HRM was associated with increased skin disease severity and worse lung function. Obtaining HRM to identify SSc patients with more severe esophageal dysfunction could be considered to enable implementation of management strategies in patients potentially at risk for increased morbidity and mortality.
The Value of Virtual Patients in Medical Education

In this systematic review, I examined the use of virtual patient simulations as a medical teaching tool. Virtual patients are computer-based patient simulations used to educate and test medical knowledge and skills. I concentrated on Western systems of medical education and limited my search to English-language journal articles published from 2005 to 2010. I examined potential advantages and disadvantages of virtual patients, results from experimental studies on virtual patients, and practice-based tips. A chief finding of my literature review is that research supports the proper integration of virtual patients into medical curricula. One limitation of the use of virtual patients is that development can be expensive and resource intensive. One solution is the creation of a virtual commons or online community where resources are shared.
Receptor-based detection of 2,4-dinitrotoluene using modified three-dimensionally ordered macroporous carbon electrodes.

Detection of explosives, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), is becoming increasingly important. Here, 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT, a common analogue of TNT) is detected electrochemically. A receptor based electrode for the detection of DNT was prepared by modifying the surface of the walls of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) carbon. Nitrophenyl groups were first attached by the electrochemical reduction of 4-nitrobenzenediazonium ions, followed by potentiostatic reduction to aminophenyl groups. Chemical functionalization reactions were then performed to synthesize the receptor, which contains two urea groups, and a terminal primary amine. Detection of DNT using cyclic voltammetry was impeded by a large background current that resulted from the capacitance of 3DOM carbon. Detection by square wave voltammetry eliminated the background current and improved the detection limit. Unfunctionalized 3DOM carbon electrodes showed no response to DNT, whereas the receptor-modified electrodes responded to ...
A note on the DS variation of geomagnetic storms;a critical examination of method of analysis.

The determination of DS variation of magnetic storms as a function of storm time is critically examined. The regular changes in the phase angles of harmonics for DS, found by Yokouchi (1958), are attributed to irregular features that are not adequately averaged out. This apparently paradoxical circumstance is explained with an illustrative example.
Students as Peer Critics of Writing in a Psychology Course

In this study of whether feedback from students improved peers' writing 56 students in a medium-size class of introductory psychology gave written feedback to their peers who then revised their own essays for final grading. Students were more critical evaluators than the teaching assistant. Although quality of essays improved upon revision, there were some mitigating issues. The continuing need to develop writing skills is stimulus for additional research on the use of peer review.
Non-PCB capacitor technology trends

After four decades of product design based on a single dielectric liquid, the introduction of non-PCB fluids in 1977 has opened the design limits, economics, and materials for the capacitor design engineer. This paper reviews three major technology changes that are taking place in the capacitor industry involving the use of polypropylene film dielectrics and either vacuum deposited metal or embossed foil electrodes. The significant reduction in energy cost using these new technologies is demonstrated.