cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sun Protection Attitudes and Behaviors of Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients

Background. Solid-organ transplant recipients (OTRs) with sun-sensitive skin, a history of sun exposure, and clinical signs of photoaging have an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma. Objective. The objective of this study was to compare the sun protection attitudes and behaviors of OTRs with those of the general public. Methods. In spring 2003, a telephone survey of 200 OTRs and a random sample of 1091 U.S. residents were performed with standardized questions previously used in population surveys. Results. Seventy-nine percent of OTRs and 69% of the U.S. public believe that the appearance of a tan is attractive. The attitude was expressed more often by men than by women and is not related to the education of the person. A greater proportion of OTRs believed that people looked “healthier” with a tan and 88% of OTRs were not aware of their increased risk of developing skin cancer. Thirty-five percent of OTRs reported regularly using sunscreen, which is the principal form of sun protection used. Women report more regular use of sunscreen than men. OTRs wear less protective clothing and seek less shade when outdoors than the public. Sunburning was reported by 35% of OTRs, which is similar to the rate reported by the public. Conclusion. OTRs' attitude that people look “better, healthier” with a tan inhibits effective sun protection. Although physicians who care for OTRs provide patient education in the hope that it increases their awareness of their risk of developing skin cancer and will promote change in their sun protection behaviors, the OTRs' perception of risk is influenced by many concerns. Interpersonal motives, particularly for OTRs, the self-presentational ones related to appearance and the social image or prototype of a tanned person being healthy, mitigate risk perception of the health problem. Risk perception does not always inhibit risk behavior; therefore, unprotected sun exposure occurs in OTRs.
Debugging high‐performance component‐based applications

Component frameworks for high-performance computing (HPC) have special requirements that distinguish them from general component frameworks and other traditional/monolithic codes. HPC component-based applications have a crucial need for correct, high-performance execution across a variety of open-source and proprietary component compositions, potentially incorporating several different programming languages. This paper targets the unique challenges associated with debugging HPC component-based applications in the Common Component Architecture (CCA). We propose to take advantage of the well-defined code separation created by component interfaces or ‘ports’ by logging port method invocations and capturing the corresponding data arguments. This approach makes it possible to find and isolate faulty components, simulate their invocation for specific debugging analyses, check data argument validity and boundaries, and create inputs for black-box testing. Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Template-dependent RNA polymerase from black beetle virus-infected Drosophila melanogaster cells.

Abstract Infection of cultured cells of Drosophila melanogaster with black beetle virus (BBV) induces an RNA polymerase that is bound to cellular particulate material in a complex with a template RNA. We have solubilized the polymerase by treatment of the relevant particulates with detergents such as dodecyl-β- d -maltoside. The polymerase activity was made dependent upon exogenous RNA by destruction of the endogenous template RNA with micrococcal nuclease. Addition of BBV RNA1 or RNA2 induced synthesis of full-length negative-strand RNA isolated as a double-stranded complex with the added RNA. Newly synthesized plus strands were also detected in the RNA2 complexes. Certain other viral RNAs also induced synthesis of their negative strands.
Tachykinins stimulate a subset of mouse taste cells.

The tachykinins substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) are present in nociceptive sensory fibers expressing transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 1 (TRPV1). These fibers are found extensively in and around the taste buds of several species. Tachykinins are released from nociceptive fibers by irritants such as capsaicin, the active compound found in chili peppers commonly associated with the sensation of spiciness. Using real-time Ca2+-imaging on isolated taste cells, it was observed that SP induces Ca2+ -responses in a subset of taste cells at concentrations in the low nanomolar range. These responses were reversibly inhibited by blocking the SP receptor NK-1R. NKA also induced Ca2+-responses in a subset of taste cells, but only at concentrations in the high nanomolar range. These responses were only partially inhibited by blocking the NKA receptor NK-2R, and were also inhibited by blocking NK-1R indicating that NKA is only active in taste cells at concentrations that activate both receptors. In addition, it was determined that tachykinin signaling in taste cells requires Ca2+-release from endoplasmic reticulum stores. RT-PCR analysis further confirmed that mouse taste buds express NK-1R and NK-2R. Using Ca2+-imaging and single cell RT-PCR, it was determined that the majority of tachykinin-responsive taste cells were Type I (Glial-like) and umami-responsive Type II (Receptor) cells. Importantly, stimulating NK-1R had an additive effect on Ca2+ responses evoked by umami stimuli in Type II (Receptor) cells. This data indicates that tachykinin release from nociceptive sensory fibers in and around taste buds may enhance umami and other taste modalities, providing a possible mechanism for the increased palatability of spicy foods.
Historical perspectives of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery: Lyman A. Brewer III (1907-1988).

FIGURE 1. Photograph of Lyman A. Brewer III and his signature. Lyman A. Brewer III, the 54th president of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), was born in Toledo, Ohio, on July 28, 1907 (Figure 1). Brewer’s father, an engineer and innovative businessman, was the first to import seamless steel tubes into this country. Notably, Brewer’s grandfather, Lyman A. Brewer, was a Civil War surgeon, and his uncle Lyman A. Brewer II was Professor of Surgery at the Toledo Medical College. Recognizing his family’s surgical legacy, Brewer chose medicine as his calling, although his engineering inventiveness was to be later evident. He attended Scott High School and matriculated in 1924 at Amherst College, an environment that nurtured his lifelong interest in history, literature, and the humanities. After graduation from college in 1928, Brewer attended University of Michigan Medical School, obtaining his doctorate in medicine in 1932. He, along with his friend Paul C. Samson, the 48th AATS president, continued postgraduate study for 6 months in the department of pathology. Known as the ‘‘Toledo Terrors,’’ they were to cross paths many times as the 2 became future leaders of thoracic surgery. Brewer then trained for 6 months in surgery in Toledo, followed by 18 months in internal medicine at Boston City Hospital and 12 months each of treating thoracic disease and of surgery at Bellevue Hospital in New York. The 1920s and 1930s marked a new epoch in thoracic surgery. John Alexander, the 17th AATS president, popularized anterior thoracoplasty and resection of the transverse processes of the vertebrae in treating tuberculosis. Pulmonary resection for infection and cancer was realized by Howard Lilienthal, the 5th AATS president, and Harold Brunn, the 21th AATS president, the latter of whom reported a series of patients undergoing single-stage lobectomy (5 for bronchiectasis and 1 for malignancy). In 1933, Evarts Graham, the 10th AATS president, performed the first successful single-stage pneumonectomy for lung cancer. Considered infrequent in the early 1900s, the increased incidence and diagnosis of lung cancer in the 1930s and the surgical approach to this disease were to change forever the thoracic surgical landscape. In view of these
Vertical distributions of dust and sea-salt aerosols over Puerto Rico during PRIDE measured from a light aircraft

[1] We developed the Light Aircraft Aerosol Package (LAAP) to make measurements of aerosol properties up to ∼4000 m asl. The LAAP reliably measured, with empirical and theoretical corrections, aerosol microphysical and chemical properties. During the Puerto Rico Dust Experiment (PRIDE), June–July 2000, we measured aerosol properties over the tropical North Atlantic. On the basis of aerosol filter samples and measured aerosol size distributions, we (1) modeled sea-salt aerosol concentration with altitude, characterizing the rapid decrease in sea-salt concentration with altitude; (2) found no evidence of sea salt above the marine boundary layer (MBL); and (3) observed mineral dust in the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) to exceed 170 μg m−3. Substantial variability in the vertical distribution and small differences in the size distribution of dust between the MBL and SAL suggested dust properties were more dependent on the separate transport histories than the interaction between the MBL and SAL near Puerto Rico. Relatively constant dust size distributions with altitude suggested either (1) no relofting of dust aerosols once they get into the “deposition layer” or (2) dry deposition removes dust particles independent of particle size. Dust size distributions measured at low (∼25%) and high (∼93%) relative humidity were indistinguishable. A simple model calculation suggests dust particles over the tropical North Atlantic during summer increase their geometric diameter <6% for a relative humidity change from 25 to 95%. Thus optical properties of those dust particles should not change for relative humidities <95%.
Evolutionary and Ecological Genomics of Arabidopsis

Why are some plants self-pollinating? What determines the timing of flowering and germination? Why do resistant and susceptible alleles of pathogen-resistant genes coexist in populations? These are just a few questions traditionally asked in the domain of ecology and evolutionary biology, and
How might nature value man

Abstract While much time and effort is spent attempting to quantify environmental services for inclusion in the economic system, no one seems to ask how nature might value us. An ecological accounting process is devised to accommodate ecosystem flows, allowing for the computation of ecological prices, and leading to the calculation of net ecosystem output and the efficiency of its production. The process is somewhat similar to economic accounting, but allows us to consider the ecosystem as open, conforming to thermodynamic laws. Examples, such as intervention to reduce soil erosion, illustrate how humans might be appreciated by the ecosystem. In some instances, the net output might be higher with some human presence than with no human presence.
Numerical simulation and experimental studies of longitudinally excited miniature solid-state lasers

We present a numerical model for the transient response of a longitudinally pumped miniature solid-state laser. The model is suitable for both regenerative amplifiers and oscillators, provided the latter run in a single mode. The results of our calculations compare well with measurements of the peak output powers and pulse widths for a Nd:YAG rod pumped by a ten-stripe diode laser array. Our model predicts saturation at peak powers of approximately twice the 850 mW reported here due to filling of the lower laser level. To overcome this power limitation due to saturation, we also explore the use of miniature Nd:glass laser amplifiers to boost the single-frequency Nd:YAG pulses to powers exceeding 200 W.
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome: absence of the mutant enzyme in erythrocytes of a heterozygote for both normal and mutant hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase.

Subjects heterozygous for the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome with a deficiency of the X-linked gene for the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (PRT) would be expected to have two populations of erythrocytes in roughly equal proportions—one type with the normal enzyme and the other type exhibiting the mutant form of the enzyme. In contrast to this prediction, previous studies utilizing an X-linked gene for another enzyme as a marker for the PRT locus have suggested that erythrocytes from heterozygotes consist largely of cells with the normal form of the enzyme. We have recently described a mutant form of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl tranferase with altered kinetic properties which allow it to be measured in artificial mixtures with the normal enzyme. The mutant enzyme could not be detected in erythrocyte lysates from a proven heterozygote for both the normal and this mutant form of the enzyme. This provides additional evidence that either inactivation of the X-chromosome in erythropoietic tissue from the heterozygote for PRT deficiency is not random or that random X-chromosome inactivation is followed by selection against erythrocyte precursors with the mutant enzyme.
Impact of low intensity millimetre waves on cell functions

Investigations on the biological impact of low levels of millimetre-wave energy date back to the first experiments on the generation and detection of these high-frequency signals by Sir Jagadis Chunder Bose at the end of the 19th century. Slightly more than a hundred years later, millimetre-wave transmission has become a ubiquitous commercial reality. Despite the widespread use of millimetre-wave transmitters for communications, radar and even non-lethal weapons systems, only a handful of researchers have funded programmes focusing on millimetre-wave interactions with biological systems. As such, there is a growing need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of these interactions and their possible adverse and therapeutic implications. Independent of the health impact of long-term exposure to high doses of millimetre-wave energy on whole organisms, there exists the potential for subtle effects on specific tissues or organs which can best be quantified in studies which examine real-time changes in cellular function as energy is applied. In this Letter, a series of experiments are presented which show changes in cell membrane potential and the action potential firing rate of cortical neurons under short (1 min) exposures to continuous-wave 60 GHz radiation at µW/cm2 power levels, more than 1000 times below the US government maximum permissible exposure. The findings have implications for non-contact stimulation and control of neurologic function, and might prove useful in a variety of health applications from suppression of peripheral neuropathic pain to the treatment of central neurological disorders.
Characterization of Dupont photopolymers in infrared light for free-space optical interconnects.

Dupont photopolymer as a potential holographic material for an optical interconnect system was studied. The optimized conditions of recording plane-wave holograms with ~99% effective diffraction efficiency for infrared reconstruction were obtained by testing different Dupont photopolymers and different copying parameters. The scattering ratios of the holograms recorded with Dupont photopolymers HRF600-10, HRF600-20, and HRF600-38 were measured and compared.
Efficacy and social support as predictors of parenting stress among families in poverty

Using a sample of low-income mothers enrolled in Early Head Start (n = 65), this study tested the hypothesis that parenting stress is affected by social support and self-efficacy, in addition to family risk status and family income. Specifically, it was proposed that social support and self-efficacy are psychological resources that are associated with lower parenting stress levels, and would moderate the impact of family income on parenting stress. A significant proportion of variance in parenting stress was explained by self-efficacy, family risk, and the interaction of self-efficacy and family income; family income alone was not a significant predictor of parenting stress levels. Mothers higher in self-efficacy had lower levels of parenting stress, and income was less associated with parenting stress levels for mothers high in self-efficacy. Social support was not associated with lower parenting stress levels, nor did social support moderate the effect of income on parenting stress. Family risk was also a strong and reliable predictor of parenting stress, suggesting that family circumstances are perhaps better predictors of parenting stress levels than income alone. These findings suggest that parenting stress among low-income parents should be viewed as a function of psychological, as well as financial, resources.
Identification of a 19-kDa polypeptide as an Fe-S center apoprotein in the photosystem I primary electron acceptor complex.

Abstract Treatment of Photosystem I (PSI) with sodium thiocyanate, a chaotropic agent, results in the selective depletion of certain low-molecular-weight polypeptides. A PSI complex obtained following treatment with 0.5 m sodium thiocyanate is significantly depleted of polypeptides of ∼8, 10, 14, and 16 kDa, relative to an untreated control, but retains ∼90% of the EPR signal amplitude associated with the iron-sulfur Centers A and B. The only peptides remaining that could not be depleted without a parallel decrease in the signal amplitude of the Fe-S Centers A and B are the 62-kDa reaction center-containing polypeptide and a 19-kDa polypeptide. These results are considered in relation to the identity of the apoprotein of the Fe-S Centers A and B.
Lateral variations in mantle P velocity from tectonically regionalized tau estimates

Summary. Estimates of tau functions for a tectonically regionalized earth are obtained from over 1.25 million seismic ray paths of ISC Bulletin data to study the correlation of potential lateral variations in mantle P-wave velocities with recognized surface heterogeneity. The use of regionalized travel-time data relies on statistical regularity criteria to check the consistency of the global regionalization. Estimates of tau perturbations attributed to velocity structure at the seismic source and receiver regions are derived by a simple algebraic formulation. Contributions from near-surface heterogeneity are thereby removed and permit the assessment of lateral velocity variations at depth. Estimates of ‘single region’ equivalent tau functions are constructed and inverted to obtain velocity—depth functions and extremal bounds at the 99.9 per cent confidence level for seven different tectonic regions. Deviations from a regionally weighted reference mean velocity function which agrees well with PREM (Dziewonski & Anderson) indicate significant differences, particularly between oceanic and continental tectonic regions, extending to a depth of 700 km. P-wave velocity anomalies are typically less than ± 1 per cent of the reference velocity. The age-dependence of the shallow oceanic mantle is observed by increased velocities from young (> 25 Myr) to old (< 100 Myr) regions, and similarly from orogenic zones and magmatic belts to stable continental regions. Unlike for young and old oceanic regions, stable continental regions do not show a pronounced gradient in the mean velocity residuals above 250 km. Continental platforms and particularly shields, however, show a compensation in the sign of the mean velocity residual at depths between about 350 and 700 km. Evidence for a velocity anomaly between 700 and 950 km is indicated. Significant negative residuals are observed centred at a depth of about 780 km below oceanic ridges and about 880 km below active continental regions. This anomaly may be related to a boundary layer between the upper and lower mantle. The level of velocity variations decreases below 950 km. Lateral variations are also suggested within 250 km of the core boundary.
Using Delphi methodology to design assessments of teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge

Descriptions of methodologies that can be used to create items for assessing teachers’ professionally situated knowledge are lacking in mathematics education research literature. In this study, researchers described and used the Delphi method to design an instrument to measure teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge. The instrument focused on a specific area of middle school geometry and measurement, decomposing and recomposing figures in 1-D and 2-D. The Delphi methodology used included three rounds of surveys of a diverse panel of 20 experts. The data analysis and data collection were done reflectively. Initial items were developed based on the research literature in the field of geometry education and teacher knowledge. New categories for the analysis emerged from the data and were used to complete the analysis. Consensus among the experts was reached after the third round of surveys, producing the assessment instrument. The researchers described strengths and limitations of this methodology for designing assessment tools of teachers’ knowledge. The researchers suggested that Delphi methodology could also be used to design and validate broader instruments related to other types of professional knowledge of teachers in different fields.
Generating narrow plasmon resonances from silver nanoparticle arrays: influence of array pattern and particle spacing

The extinction spectra of silver nanoparticle arrays are studied using the couple dipole (CD) method, with emphasis on determined the array pattern and particle spacing which produces the narrowest plasmon resonances. All calculations refer to one and two dimensional arrays of spherical particles having radii 50 nm (or of nonspherical particles with the equivalent effective volume), and only particle spacings much larger than the particle radius are considered so that the dipole approximation is accurate. The narrowest lines in all cases occur when the incident wave vector is perpendicular to the plane of the array while the polarization vector is in the plane and along a symmetry axis which depends on the array structure. We find that the narrowest plasmon bands for square and hexagonal arrays have about the same width (about 100 meV), but that the array spacing for the square array where this occurs is smaller than that for the hexagonal array. The comparison at constant array density is closer. Much smaller widths (20 meV) occur for one dimensional arrays than for two dimensional arrays. For rectangular lattices, we find that the array spacings perpendicular to the polarization vector play a much more important role in determining the plasmon wavelength and width than do spacings parallel to the polarization vector. The evolution of spectra from a two dimensional array to a one dimensional chain is studied by considering rectangular arrays in which one spacing is very large. We find that when the large spacing is 5000 nm or more, the interactions between rows of particles is weak and extinction spectrum has a narrow peak that matches what is seen for the equivalent one dimensional chain.
Urinary alpha-ketolic metabolites of corticosterone and cortisol related to body size of normal and hypertensive males.

ABSTRACT The mean daily excretion of the tetrahydro alpha-ketolic metabolites of corticosterone and cortisol was determined for 40 male subjects from multiple measurements on urine collections representing 2–16 days. Paper chromatography was used for separation, and light transmission after reaction with blue tetrazolium was used for quantitation. The means and ranges in mg/day of the corticosterone metabolites were as follows: 15 normal men, .76 (.26–1.30); 13 men with essential hypertension, .84 (.40–1.40); 6 males with nonhypertensive, nonendocrine diseases, .80 (.54–1.04); 6 preadolescent boys, .43 (.20–.82). The means and ranges of the cortisol metabolites were: normal, 3.0 (1.1–5.8); hypertension, 3.7 (2.3–6.3); nonhypertensive male patients, 4.6 (2.0–6.9); boys, 1.1 (.38–2.70). The values for the 3 adult groups did not differ significantly. The log excretion values for all 4 groups combined exhibited a linear relationship to body surface area (r = 0.68 for corticosterone; 0.86 for cortisol). There ...
Ionization of aligned Rydberg atoms by ion impact

The classical trajectory Monte Carlo method has been used to calculate capture and ionization cross sections and final-state electron momentum distributions in collisions to show how the collision mechanisms evolve over the range of intermediate projectile speeds . A circular Rydberg target was aligned in two orientations defined by the orbital angular momentum vector of the electron being either antiparallel or perpendicular to the incident momentum vector of the projectile. Aligning the target atom in this manner helps us to single out specific collision processes otherwise obscured in a randomly oriented atom. A plot of the capture and ionization cross sections shows a crossover in the capture and ionization curves as soft collisions get replaced by harder, more head-on collisions, which leads to more ionization events than captures. The ratio of ionization cross sections, , indicates a further change in collision dynamics around . It is believed that the collision dynamics for become dominated by the geometric size of the target. Plots of the ionized electron final momentum spectra for both alignments, projected onto the projectile-projectile collision plane, show specific types of two- and three-body interactions and show their evolution as a function of . The presence of these interactions can be identified and monitored by observing electrons captured to the continuum, backward scattered and saddle-point electrons, and binary collision rings and how each interaction evolves as a function of .
Mars: blueberry fields for ever.

The Mars saga continues. The latest finds — wide areas covered in balls of haematite, or ‘blueberries’, and large sulphate deposits in rocks — enable us to draw in more details of the planet's past climate.
The Local Electric Field in Photorefractive and Other Semi-insulating Materials: A Debye-Huckel Type Approach

Abstract Debye-Huckel theory is applied to determine the local electric field around a dipole in a photorefractive semi-insulating material. The dipole can be either induced, as in the presence of an electric field, or permanent. It is shown that when the Debye screening length is large, the local electric field E is given by EM(∊ + 2)/3, where E M is the macroscopic electric field. On the other hand, when the Debye screening length is small, the local electric field is equal to the macroscopic electric field.
3,3‐Diethoxy‐1‐propen‐2‐ylcopper

[57428-12-3] C7H13CuO2 (MW 192.72) InChI = 1S/C7H13O2.Cu/c1-4-7(8-5-2)9-6-3;/h7H,1,5-6H2,2-3H3; InChIKey = GQBODSXGBAKXGW-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for the synthesis of α-methylene lactones;1 1,2-addition of the 2-substituted acrolein moiety;2 1,4-addition of the 2-substituted acrolein moiety3) Alternate Name: 1-(diethoxymethyl)vinylcopper. Preparative Method: by reaction of 2-lithio-3,3-diethoxy-1-propene and copper iodide in THF at −55 °C. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: sensitive to air and moisture; decomposes above −20 °C. Use in a fume hood.
Computational and genetic evidence that different structural conformations of a non-catalytic region affect the function of plant cellulose synthase

The β-1,4-glucan chains comprising cellulose are synthesized by cellulose synthases in the plasma membranes of diverse organisms including bacteria and plants. Understanding structure–function relationships in the plant enzymes involved in cellulose synthesis (CESAs) is important because cellulose is the most abundant component in the plant cell wall, a key renewable biomaterial. Here, we explored the structure and function of the region encompassing transmembrane helices (TMHs) 5 and 6 in CESA using computational and genetic tools. Ab initio computational structure prediction revealed novel bi-modal structural conformations of the region between TMH5 and 6 that may affect CESA function. Here we present our computational findings on this region in three CESAs of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtCESA1, 3, and 6), the Atcesa3 ixr1-2 mutant, and a novel missense mutation in AtCESA1. A newly engineered point mutation in AtCESA1 (Atcesa1 F954L ) that altered the structural conformation in silico resulted in a protein that was not fully functional in the temperature-sensitive Atcesa1 rsw1-1 mutant at the restrictive temperature. The combination of computational and genetic results provides evidence that the ability of the TMH5–6 region to adopt specific structural conformations is important for CESA function.
Effects of Antihypertensive Drugs on Endocrine Function

Pharmacological treatment of hypertension can cause clinically significant alterations in endocrine function through effects on glucose homeostasis, thyroid and parathyroid hormones, adrenal steroid metabolism and reproductive/pituitary physiology. Long term use of thiazide diuretics causes deterioration in glucose tolerance, probably secondary to potassium depletion. Hypoglycaemic complications of β-blockers (mainly the non-selective compounds) can be dramatic, especially in type I diabetics. Clonidine, diazoxide and calcium antagonists have all been associated with deterioration in glucose tolerance and their long term use should be avoided in type II diabetics if possible. Propranolol lowers T3 levels by decreasing the conversion of T4 to T3. Prazosin causes elevations in T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone, while sodium nitroprusside use may result in hypothyroidism. Numerous agents are associated with sexual dysfunction, including methyldopa, reserpine, clonidine and spironolactone. Thiazide diuretics may cause hypercalcaemia, particularly in patients with hyperparathyroidism, by decreasing urinary calcium as well as directly influencing bone and gut calcium handling. Conversely, propranolol may decrease circulating parathyroid hormone levels and correct the hypercalcaemia seen in hyperparathyroidism. Awareness of drug-induced changes in endocrine function will facilitate the rational management of the hypertensive patient.
Expenditures of Accommodations Tax Revenue: A South Carolina Study

The collection of accommodations taxes, generally paid by nonresident visitors, has become a well-accepted means of raising tax revenues in tourism communities. This article looks at small communities and counties across the State of South Carolina to determine categories of use that may provide local governments their best return on their expenditure of these funds. The findings, decidedly exploratory in nature, suggest that the use of accommodation tax funds for the promotion of the arts, cultural events, and other tourism-related events is a successful strategy, enabling tourism growth (as measured by growth in the accommodations sector) while hopefully fueling a virtuous cycle that yields still greater tourism dollars for the community.
Negative symptoms and vocational impairment in schizophrenia : repeated measurements of work performance over six months

Interest in negative symptoms as a dimension of schizophrenia has grown dramatically in the last decade. One hypothesized correlate of negative symptoms that has received less attention is deteriorated work function. To address this issue, this study compared biweekly measurements of work performance for 21 patients with prominent negative symptom and 29 patients without prominent negative symptoms enrolled in a 26-week supported work program. Nonparametric analysis indicated that subjects with prominent negative symptoms demonstrated poorer performance than other subjects on task orientation, social skills and personal presentation. No evidence was found that the work performance of either group improved or worsened over time, although a trend suggested that social skills may have improved slightly for both groups across the 26 weeks. These results support hypotheses linking negative symptoms with deteriorated work function.
Selection of forest canopy gaps by male Cerulean Warblers in West Virginia

Abstract Forest openings, or canopy gaps, are an important resource for many forest songbirds, such as Cerulean Warblers (Setophaga cerulea). We examined canopy gap selection by this declining species to determine if male Cerulean Warblers selected particular sizes, vegetative heights, or types of gaps. We tested whether these parameters differed among territories, territory core areas, and randomly-placed sample plots. We used enhanced territory mapping techniques (burst sampling) to define habitat use within the territory. Canopy gap densities were higher within core areas of territories than within territories or random plots, indicating that Cerulean Warblers selected habitat within their territories with the highest gap densities. Selection of regenerating gaps with woody vegetation >12 m within the gap, and canopy heights >24 m surrounding the gap, occurred within territory core areas. These findings differed between two sites indicating that gap selection may vary based on forest structure. Differe...
Improving TCP smoothness by synchronized and measurement-based congestion avoidance

In this paper, we observe that although multiplicative decrease is necessary to accomplish fairness in congestion control, it does not inevitably sacrifice system throughput, as long as the system operates between the knee and the cliff, according to an equation. However, even when the system throughput is relatively stable, end users of real-time applications do not necessarily experience a smooth traffic, mainly caused by the unsynchronized window adjustments due to random congestion indications. We analyzed and evaluated the negative impact of random window adjustments on smoothness, short-term fairness, and even long-term fairness measured by a novel fairness metric defined in this paper. Therefore, we propose an experimental congestion avoidance mechanism to improve TCP smoothness for media-streaming applications. The mechanism relies on a fine-grained RTT estimation to measure the network condition, and coordinates the upward and backward window adjustments to abolish the damage of unsynchronized window control. Congestive packet drops are reduced by a new control parameter g, and the bottleneck queue length can also be controlled in an end-to-end way. Simulation results confirm that the new mechanism enhance significantly the smoothness and fairness, without a cost of responsiveness. In fact, by enabling a new parameter d, the responsiveness can be even enhanced when the bandwidth is under-utilized.
A REGIOSELECTIVE, CHEMOENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS OF SUCROSE-1 '-METHACRYLATE

Pure sucrose is inexpensive and readily available, making this disaccharide a highly desirable starting material for new polymers. In order to achieve a clean polymerization, the disaccharide must be regioselectively monofunctionalized in good yield. This paper describes the practical, enzyme-mediated synthesis of sucrose-1 ′-methacrylate 2 from sucrose and vinyl methacrylate using subtilisin Carlsberg (Sigma, Protease VIII), a readily available bacterial serine protease. A key aspect of this process, ascertaining the positional selectivity of acylation, was unambiguously accomplished using 1H-detected (1H, 13C) one-bond shift correlation (HMQC) spectroscopy and1H-detected (1H, 13C) multiple bond correlation (HMBC) spectroscopy.
Making Branching Programs Oblivious Requires Superlogarithmic Overhead

We prove a time-space tradeoff lower bound of $T =\Omega\left(n\log(\frac{n}{S}) \log \log(\frac{n}{S})\right) $ forrandomized oblivious branching programs to compute $1GAP$, alsoknown as the pointer jumping problem, a problem for which there is asimple deterministic time $n$ and space $O(\log n)$ RAM (randomaccess machine) algorithm.%Although no simulations of general%computation on randomized oblivious algorithms requiring only%polylogarithmic increase in time and space are yet known, our lower%bound implies that a superlogarithmic factor increase in time and%space is in fact necessary in any such simulation.We give a similar time-space tradeoff of $T =\Omega\left(n\log(\frac{n}{S}) \log \log(\frac{n}{S})\right)$ forBoolean randomized oblivious branching programs computing$GIP$-$MAP$, a variation of the generalized inner product problem thatcan be computed in time $n$ and space $O(\log^2 n)$ by adeterministic Boolean branching program.These are also the first lower bounds for randomized obliviousbranching programs computing explicit functions that apply for$T=\omega(n\log n)$. They also show that any simulation ofgeneral branching programs by randomized oblivious ones requires eithera superlogarithmic increase in time or an exponential increase in space.
Catalytic Response and Electrode Kinetics on Noble Metal-Treated Type 304 Stainless Steel in 288°C Water

Abstract The catalytic response and electrochemical polarization behavior of O2 and H2 reactions on noble metal-treated Type 304 (UNS S30400) stainless steel (SS) in high-temperature water containi...
Determining thermotolerance of fifth-instar Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) by three different methods

Thermotolerances of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), were determined using two waterimmersion methods and one dry-heat method. The two water-immersion methods were: 1) directly immersing screen tubes containing test insects in hot water (direct immersion method) and 2) immersing in hot water solid copper tubes containing insects submerged in tap water (tube immersion method). The dry heating method involved heating insects in computer-controlled heating blocks (heating block system, or HBS). Each test insect was treated at three temperature-time combinations and exposures were adjusted so that each method received the same equivalent accumulated lethal time. In five of the six tests, the HBS provided the lowest mean insect mortality among the three methods, although no statistically significant differences were observed between the direct immersion and the HBS methods. The mean insect mortality obtained with the tube immersion method was significantly higher than that from the direct immersion method and the HBS in four and three of the six temperature-time combinations, respectively. When compared with the two water-immersion methods, the HBS method yielded lower mortality data with less variation at the same mortality level, resulting in more conservative treatment recommendations.
An experimental study on forecasting using TES processes

Forecasting is of prime importance for accuracy in decision making. For data sets containing high autocorrelations, failure to account for temporal dependence will result in poor forecasting. TES (Transform-Expand-Sample) is a class of stochastic processes to model empirical autocorrelated time series and is used in Monte Carlo simulation. Its merit is to simultaneously capture both the empirical distribution function and the autocorrelation function. The transition structure of TES processes can be utilized to calculate forecasts for future periods. In this paper, we utilize phase-type random variables as the innovation density in TES model fitting methodology, and we investigate the forecasting performance of TES processes compared to traditional auto regressive integrated moving-average models. We find that TES models yield forecasts as accurate as time series models.
Characterization of Deformed Microstructures

Over the past two decades or so, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has become an increasingly important analytical technique in characterizing polycrystalline microstructures. As this tool was championed by the texture analysis community in the early stages of its application to materials research, characterization of deformed materials has been a significant fraction of the EBSD applications research published in the open literature. This chapter focuses on the application of EBSD to the characterization of deformed materials.
Hormonal Control of Calcium Homeostasis

Calcium homeostasis in the extracellular fluid is tightly controlled and defended physiologically. Hypercalcemia always represents considerable underlying pathology and occurs when the hormonal control of calcium homeostasis is overwhelmed. The major hormones that are responsible for normal calcium homeostasis are parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; these hormones control extracellular fluid calcium on a chronic basis. Over- or underproduction of these hormones or the tumor peptide, parathyroid hormone-related peptide, are the major causes of aberrant extracellular fluid calcium concentrations. These hormonal defense mechanisms are reviewed here.
A generalized stochastic Petri net model for performance analysis and control of capacitated reentrant lines

The basic definition of the reentrant line, which constitutes the typical abstraction for the formal modeling and analysis of the fabrication (fab) scheduling problem, considers only the job contest for the finite processing capacity of the system workstations, ignoring completely the effects and complications arising from additional operational issues like the finite buffering capacity of the system workstations/production units. Yet, as the semiconductor industry moves to more extensively automated operational modes, the explicit characterization and control of these additional operational features is of paramount importance for the robust and stable operation of the entire system. Moreover, the operational policies developed to control these logical aspects of the system behavior introduce additional constraints to the fab scheduling problem, that complicate it even further and, more importantly, invalidate prior characterizations of its optimal solutions. Motivated by these remarks, the work presented in the paper develops an analytical framework for the modeling, analysis, and control of capacitated, flexibly automated reentrant lines, based on the class of generalized stochastic Petri nets. The proposed framework allows the seamless integration of the logical/structural and the timed-based aspects of the system behavior, provides an analytical formulation for the underlying scheduling problem, and leads to an interesting qualitative characterization of the structure of the optimal scheduling policy. Hence, it provides the analytical basis for addressing the reentrant line scheduling problem in its contemporary, more complex operational context, and it constitutes the starting point for the development of new scheduling tools and policies for it.
Why do tumor cells have a high aerobic glycolysis

In Ehrlich ascites cells and several other tumors, the high aerobic glycolysis is maintained by generation of ADP and Pi by the plasma membrane Na+K+ ATPase. The high ATP activity is caused by a defective pump that operates at a low efficiency. Studies of the mechanism of action of the Na+K+ ATPase and other pump ATPases suggest several alternative mechanisms that might account for the decreased efficiency. The possibility of involvement of a proteolipid is under investigation.
Risk of recurrence and long-term outcomes after colonic diverticular bleeding

Purpose Diverticular disease is one of the most common causes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to evaluate the natural history, follow-up, and risk factors associated with re-bleeding (recurrence) in patients with colonic diverticular bleeding.
Does the Type and Dose of Palliative Care Services Impact Symptom Control in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure

Does the Type and Dose of Palliative Care Services Impact Symptom Control in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure? Lorraine S. Evangelista 1 , Jennifer Ballard-Hernandez 2 , Dawn Lombardo 2 , Shaista Malik 2 , Marjan Motie 1 , Solomon Liao 2 ; 1 University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA; 2 University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA Introduction: Outpatient palliative care (PC) for patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF) is a relatively new practice and few data exist that describe the nature of these clinical encounters. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the nature of outpa- tient PC services (i.e. type, duration, frequency) used by patients with advanced HF would impact symptom burden 3 months post-discharge. Methods: This study was conducted at a single, tertiary care medical center. Patients were recruited from the inpatient setting during an episode of acute HF exacerbation and referred for an ini- tial PC consultation and subsequent follow-up support with the PC team. Data on PC services accessed were monitored over 3 months. Surveys were conducted immedi- ately after and 3 months post-discharge to assess symptom burden. Results: Thirty six patients completed the initial PC consultation with a PC specialist (17%) or ad- vanced practice nurse (83%); care focused on physical and psychosocial assessment (100%), advanced care planning (100%), symptom management (81%), illness un- derstanding (69%), and patient and family coping (50%). Median total time for the initial PC consultation was 75 minutes (range 50-120). Twenty-nine (83.7%) agreed to receive additional PC support (Figure 1); median number of visits per patient was 2 (range 1-4). Marked improvements in all symptoms, except depression, were noted at 3 months (Table 1). Participants who sought PC services beyond the initial consulta- tion reported signiﬁcantly better symptom control than their counterparts (P!.050). Conclusion: Our ﬁndings suggest that the type and dose of PC signiﬁcantly improved the symptoms evaluated. Randomized controlled trials are indicated to further eval- uate the effectiveness of PC services in patients with advanced HF.
Congestion location detection: Methodology, algorithm, and performance

We address the following question in this study: Can a network application detect not only the occurrence, but also the location of congestion? Answering this question will not only help the diagnostic of network failure and monitor server's QoS, but also help developers to engineer transport protocols with more desirable congestion avoidance behavior. The paper answers this question through new analytic results on the two underlying technical difficulties: 1) synchronization effects of loss and delay in TCP, and 2) distributed hypothesis testing using only local loss and delay data. We present a practical Congestion Location Detection (CLD) algorithm that effectively allows an end host to distributively detect whether congestion happens in the local access link or in more remote links. We validate the effectiveness of CLD algorithm with extensive experiments.
Broadband Mag-Noise of Patterned Permalloy Thin Films

A Y-factor noise figure (NF) measurement method is developed to characterize high-frequency mag-noise of a 550 nm wide Permalloy strip array under different dc bias currents. The noise voltage density is obtained. The proposed lumped element transmission line model describes noise properties of the patterned Py array well. Measurement data show that rapid ferromagnetic resonance frequencies (FMR) shift induced by dc bias current is related to the excess magnetization fluctuation thermally created by the combined dc current Joule heating effects and orthogonal Oersted fields.
Inducible transcriptional activity of bcn-1 element from laminin γ1-chain gene promoter in renal and nonrenal cells

Laminin is a major component of the extracellular matrix whose expression is regulated by growth factors. The laminin γ1-chain promoter contains a newly identified transcriptional element denoted bcn-1 that is both active and inducible in mesangial cells. In this study, we explored activation of the bcn-1 element in other renal and nonrenal cells. Treatment of rat glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased activity of the bcn-1 transcriptional element, within the context of the native laminin γ1-chain promoter or when cloned upstream of a heterologous promoter. Treatment of GEC with PMA induced nuclear DNA-binding activity, BCN-1, which was recognized by the bcn-1 motif in a gel shift assay. These results provide evidence that the bcn-1 motif and its cognate BCN-1 factor(s) may regulate transcription of the laminin γ1-chain in GEC. The bcn-1 element and its cognate BCN-1 DNA-binding activity were also inducible in monkey kidney COS-7 and in human T cell Jurkat l...