cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generation of a Tumor-Specific Chemokine Gradient Using Oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Encoding CXCL9

Genetically modified vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an attractive agent for cancer treatment due to rapid intratumoral replication and observed clinical responses. Although VSV selectively kills malignant cells and can boost antitumor immunity, limited induction of intratumoral immune infiltration remains a barrier to efficacy in some cancer models. Here we engineered the oncolytic VSV platform to encode the T cell chemokine CXCL9, which is known to mediate the recruitment of activated CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD4+ T helper cells, and demonstrates conserved protein function between mice and humans. Chemotactic activity of the virally encoded chemokine was confirmed in vitro. Intratumoral concentration of CXCL9 was shown to increase after VSV therapy in three different cancer models, but to a much greater degree after VSV-CXCL9 therapy as compared with VSV control viruses. Despite a steep chemokine gradient from the tumor to the bloodstream, tumor trafficking of adoptively transferred and endogenous T cells was not measurably increased following VSV-CXCL9 therapy. Our results indicate that oncolytic VSV infection promotes release of CXCL9 in the tumor microenvironment, but further boosting of the functional chemokine gradient through virus engineering has little incremental impact on intratumoral immune cell infiltration in mouse and human tumor models.
Clinical Entities that Mimic Salivary Inflammatory Disease

Sialadenitis due to salivary obstruction is associated with characteristic intermittent pain and swelling of the affected gland. Common etiologies of adult salivary obstruction include salivary duct stones or duct stenosis. However, various pathologic processes can mimic obstructive salivary gland symptoms. This is a case-based review of pathologies that may present similar to the signs and symptoms of salivary obstruction with gland inflammation. Multiple cases with pathologies mimicking inflammatory salivary gland disease have been reported and described. This review uses a case-based approach to highlight the clinical presentation, exam, and imaging findings of disorders that imitate sialadenitis in order to describe approaches for achieving accurate diagnoses. Cases involving nonobstructive salivary pathology are presented to demonstrate a broad differential diagnosis for facial and salivary gland swelling.
Every cloud has a silver lining: Narcissism's buffering impact on the relationship between the Dark Triad and well-being

Abstract Research investigating the relationships among the Dark Triad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and well-being has shown narcissism to be functionally distinct from the other two dark traits. Across two studies, the relationship between these three traits and well-being was investigated, using first broad and then more nuanced measures of the Dark Triad. Results of Study 1 indicated that narcissism differed from the other Dark Triad traits in that it was positively associated with well-being. Additionally, narcissism provided a buffering effect on the relationship between these traits and well-being. Study 2 results found that the grandiose subtype of narcissism was positively associated with well-being and provided a buffering effect on the relationship between the other Dark Triad traits and well-being.
Unearthing the entangled roots of urban agriculture

This study examines urban agriculture (UA) in Sacramento, California (USA), the nation's self-branded “Farm-to-Fork Capital,” in order to highlight UA’s distinct yet entangled roots. The study is based on 24 interviews with a diverse array of UA leaders, conducted as part of a five-year transdisciplinary study of UA in Sacramento. In it, we unearth three primary “taproots” of UA projects, each with its own historical legacies, normative visions, and racial dynamics. In particular, we examine UA projects with “justice taproots,” “health taproots,” and “market taproots.” We use this analysis to understand how different kinds of UA projects are embedded in racial capitalism in ways that transform relationships between people, the city, and food systems. Unearthing these entangled roots helps illuminate UA’s underlying politics, showing how these roots grow in both competitive and symbiotic ways within the soil matrix of racial capitalism. We argue that these roots interact differently with racial capitalism, creating disparities in their growth trajectories. In particular, UA projects associated with the justice taproot are historically underrepresented and undervalued. However, we argue that there are some prospects for building alliances between the UA movement’s three roots, and that these are both promising and problematic.
Cultural humility in an intercultural mentor-mentee relationship: overcoming emotional “borders and borderlands” of Nepali-mentors and US-mentees

This study examines qualitative data collected during an 8-month ethnographic study that explored the emotional experiences of six student-teachers from a university in the Rocky Mountain region of...
An examination of policy in practice: a case study of inclusionary internationalization

This article focuses on the perceptions of institutional practices and practices to nurture greater cross-cultural learning and inclusion by highlighting findings from an in-depth qualitative case study conducted at a prominent Canadian research university with a stellar reputation for recruiting and providing an inclusive environment for international students. Using a conceptual framework drawn from institutional diversity theory, this study examines perceptions by students, faculty, and staff of institutional practices and strategies aimed at nurturing inclusion for international students in order to glean insight about whether this institution is perceived to embody its espoused value of inclusive internationalization. The findings demonstrate that when internationalization is upheld as a core value of an institution, that value can be witnessed in the artefacts and rhetoric of an institution. While the rhetoric may influence the creation of additional services to support international students and faculty, it is limiting in its ability to produce inclusive environments, especially for populations of colour. The implications of these findings are discussed.
The silver linings of COVID-19: Uplifting effects of the pandemic.

The COVID19 pandemic has lined our psyches with anxiety, uncertainty, and foreboding. Emergency physicians have co-existed with it for nearly a year and its tentacles have wrapped ever more tightly around us. Many in emergency medicine have experienced the negative and sometimes tragic consequences of COVID19 either in their work or in their own families. To balance the negativity surrounding COVID19, we postulate there may be some silver linings: positive consequences resulting from the pandemic that have stimulated changes in clinical medicine delivery and impacted physician wellbeing. Globally 1.8 million people have died from COVID19.
Performance Enhancement and Restoration of Micromechanical Resonators Via UV-Ozone Treatment

An ultraviolet (UV)-ozone treatment process capable of atomic-scale surface cleaning has enabled the highest measured room temperature Q and frequency-Q product (f-Q) for on-chip polysilicon acoustic resonators to date while also demonstrating an ability to restore catastrophically contaminated devices to operational performance specs. Specifically, UV-ozone cleaning improved the Q of a heavily contaminated 61-MHz polysilicon wineglass disk resonator by over 282 from a very-low 921 to a record-setting-high of 259,910. Post-release UV-ozone treatment further raises the Q of a 303.2-MHz polysilicon wineglass disk resonator by 30.5% to 89,172, yielding the highest measured f-Q to date of 2.70013 for polysilicon micromechanical resonators. Initial experiments seem to confirm that the high surface-to-volume ratio of micro and nano-scale structures amplifies susceptibility to surface-derived loss mechanisms. UV-ozone treatment also raised the Q of a 311.2-MHz AlN resonator from 789 to 2,574, providing evidence of a material agnostic benefit.
How DNA and RNA Viruses Exploit Host Chaperones to Promote Infection

To initiate infection, a virus enters a host cell typically via receptor-dependent endocytosis. It then penetrates a subcellular membrane, reaching a destination that supports transcription, translation, and replication of the viral genome. These steps lead to assembly and morphogenesis of the new viral progeny. The mature virus finally exits the host cell to begin the next infection cycle. Strikingly, viruses hijack host molecular chaperones to accomplish these distinct entry steps. Here we highlight how DNA viruses, including polyomavirus and the human papillomavirus, exploit soluble and membrane-associated chaperones to enter a cell, penetrating and escaping an intracellular membrane en route for infection. We also describe the mechanism by which RNA viruses-including flavivirus and coronavirus-co-opt cytosolic and organelle-selective chaperones to promote viral endocytosis, protein biosynthesis, replication, and assembly. These examples underscore the importance of host chaperones during virus infection, potentially revealing novel antiviral strategies to combat virus-induced diseases.
Design considerations for passive gamma-ray spectrometers

Passive gamma-ray spectrometers composed of attenuation filters and integrating detection materials provide important advantages for measurements in high-radiation environments and for long-term monitoring. Each of these applications has requirements that constrain the design of the instrument, such as incident energy range of interest, sensor size and weight, readout method, and cost. The multitude of parameters in passive spectrometer design (e.g. attenuation filter material and thickness, integrating sensor type, numbers of pixels, reconstructed energy bin structure) results in a large design space to examine. The development of generalized design optimization tools to interrogate this space and to identify promising spectrometer designs is discussed, particularly the methods used to rapidly calculate system transfer functions and the use of genetic algorithms for design optimization. Specific examples of preliminary design optimization efforts are provided.
Isolated splenic high-grade serous carcinoma: A case report.

Abstract We present a unique case of high-grade serous carcinoma isolated to the spleen at the time of diagnosis, without any tumor present in the ovary, fallopian tubes, omentum or uterus, which was pathologically consistent with metastatic Mullerian carcinoma. Tumor sequencing with the MSK-IMPACT (Memorial Sloan Kettering–Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets) multigene tumor panel test was performed, which revealed somatic mutations in PALB2 and in ARID1, as well as a TP53 hotspot mutation.
The Dream Is Alive! [Turnstile]

Discusses Nikola Tesla's research in wireless communications and reports on initiatives by the company, Emrod, to launch Tesla's vision of wireless power transmission. Emrod New Zealand) is working with Powerco, a New Zealand electricity distributor, to develop and test a prototype system that will send electricity generated by a solar farm to a client over a distance of several kilometers. The company plans to do this by converting dc electricity to a microwave beam, which is transmitted and converted back to usable electricity at the customer’s site.
Risk Uncertainties in Public Sector Safety Decisions: Assessment Methods and Management Implications

In this paper, three levels of uncertainty analysis are examined for the different risk assessment methods used in public sector safety decisions. Level 0 relies on the worst-case approach. Level 1 is based on the estimation of a probability of event, failure, disease incidence, or death, and by a single probability distribution of the outcomes (a “risk curve”). Level 2 involves computation of a probability distribution of the probability of failure or death and leads to a distribution of risk curves. For each approach, we discuss the nature of the uncertainty analysis involved, the decision framework and criteria that are implicit in the information structure, and their effect on the management policy.
Theories of Warps

The large-scale warps of disk galaxies remain a challenge for theorists. Recent speculations about their origins or longevity have tended to focus on the possible benefits of halos. After some remarks about modes, this review will do likewise. It will conclude that any applause even there can as yet be only scattered rather than thunderous.
Actuarial Projections of Health Care Costs: Accuracy, Bias and Asymptotes

Most causes and correlates of short-run (1 to 3 year) fluctuations in health care costs and insurance premiums are unrelated to long term trend or “drift,” and thus pose quite different problems with regard to accuracy and bias. Short-run variation is dominated by lagged inflation, wage growth and underwriting effects, with a substantial random component ( ± 2 percent). As the projection horizon lengthens, error is dominated by systematic components related mostly to underlying economic growth that are harder to observe, leaving a substantial residual (which is often termed “the technology effect.)” Long-term (10 year) projections have reliable correlations with wages, but not with health status or type of insurance. Analysis of the relatively few (less than 20) extant health expenditure projections that were published in advance and hence allow for reliable calculation of forecast error show non-random drift/trend elements almost as large as the annual random deviations. Ten-year projections show errors around 10%, with baseline, inflation and GDP errors usually larger than errors in the health care cost growth trend. EU, OECD and U.S.OACT projection errors for 1985-2005 are compared. Results of a survey of practicing actuaries (n=92) conducted in April 2008, show that a majority expect U.S. cost growth to slow within the next ten years, but still to surpass 25% of GDP before beginning to stabilize. Virtually none of these professional actuaries expect health care costs to decline relative to wages in the foreseeable future but when probed, about half put the probability at less that 1-in-100, but 18% put the possibility of a decline at more than 1-in-10. The “state of the art” in forecasting long run medical spending is assessed in models used by CMS, CBO, and the Society of Actuaries. Tracking medical expenditures by nominal dollar growth and real per capita spending are useful, yet focusing on the share (of wages, laborforce, or GDP) provides the perspective most immediately applicable to policy and capable of providing the most robust long run forecasts. Spending limits appear to be a variable result of politics and budgetary constraints more than morbidity and mortality. Although death and taxes may be certainties, “when” and “how much” are not.
The engagement continuum model using corporate social responsibility as an intervention for sustained employee engagement: Research leading practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore implications of motivational potential that are highly correlated to the self-determination theory (SDT) (intrinsic motivating factors), in relation to corporate social responsibility (CSR). This paper specifies key antecedents of engagement within the theoretical framework of the self-determination theory as it relates to employee engagement and CSR. Design/methodology/approach – The methods used for the purpose of this paper include a review of the relevant literature utilizing the descriptors of employee engagement, SDT and CSR. Alternative descriptors were not queried. The authors then selected articles that were found to be most cited, reviewed such articles and began to analyze the literature, synthesize and formulate connections. Findings – Based on research findings, a conceptual model was formulated and posited for research and practice. It is demonstrated in the paper that employee engagement has a wide range of benefits for all involved and focu...
One Sick Child Away from Being Fired: When 'Opting Out' is Not an Option

Professional women are not the only Americans whose jobs are in jeopardy because of work/family conflict. This report discusses a study of 99 union arbitrations that provide a unique window into how work and family responsibilities clash in the lives of bus drivers, telephone workers, construction linemen, nurses aides, carpenters, welders, janitors, and others — men as well as women — in working-class jobs.
Targeting LKB1 in cancer - exposing and exploiting vulnerabilities

The LKB1 tumour suppressor is a serine/threonine kinase that functions as master regulator of cell growth, metabolism, survival and polarity. LKB1 is frequently mutated in human cancers and research spanning the last two decades have begun decoding the cellular pathways deregulated following LKB1 inactivation. This work has led to the identification of vulnerabilities present in LKB1-deficient tumour cells. Pre-clinical studies have now identified therapeutic strategies targeting this subset of tumours that promise to benefit this large patient population harbouring LKB1 mutations. Here, we review the current efforts that are underway to translate pre-clinical discovery of therapeutic strategies targeting LKB1 mutant cancers into clinical practice.
Direct measurement of the Wigner function by photon-number-resolving detection

Photon-number-resolving (PNR) detection allows for the direct measurement of the Wigner quasi-probability distribution of an optical mode without the need for numerically processing an inverse Radon transform [Phys. Rev. Lett.76, 4344 (1996)10.1103/PhysRevLett.76.4344PRLTAO0031-9007]. In this work, we reproduced the seminal experiment of Banaszek et al. [Phys. Rev. A60, 674 (1999)10.1103/PhysRevA.60.674PLRAAN1050-2947] of quantum tomography of a pure coherent state, and of a statistical mixture thereof, and extended it to the more general case of photon fluxes with much more than one photon per detection time. This was made possible by the use of a superconducting transition-edge sensor to perform PNR detection from zero to five photons at 1064 nm, at ∼70% system efficiency and with no dead time. We detail signal acquisition and detection efficiency and discuss prospects for applying such quantum tomography to non-Gaussian states.
Medicaid Expansions and Crowd-Out: Evidence from HIFA Premium Assistance Programs

Objective To evaluate the effect of the Oregon and New Mexico Health Insurance Flexibility and Accountability (HIFA) demonstrations. HIFA is an optional state Medicaid expansion targeted at adults and children with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). The study has five research questions: What type of health insurance do HIFA enrollees self report in surveys? What are the demographic characteristics of these enrollees? What type of health insurance coverage, if any, did HIFA enrollees have just prior to enrollment in the HIFA program? Among those with prior coverage, what prompted participation in the HIFA program? What type of health insurance, if any, would HIFA enrollees have in the absence of HIFA? Methods Data were collected via telephone interviews with a total of 406 enrollees from Oregon and 409 enrollees from New Mexico. The survey was conducted between July 7 and September 20, 2009, for both states. The sample frame for the survey was based on administrative records of adults enrolled in June 2009. After completion of the survey, active enrollment status as of the date the telephone interview was confirmed. Respondents no longer enrolled at the time of the survey (7 cases in NM and 14 in OR) were excluded from the analysis. The final sample size was 794 verified HIFA enrollees. Results HIFA enrollees tended to be middle-aged, male, and relatively unhealthy. Employment status varied tremendously from the self-employed to retired to unable to work. HIFA enrollees were reasonably well educated with 80 percent having at least a high school education. Most HIFA enrollees (90 percent) reported being uninsured just prior to participation in HIFA. Of those who were uninsured, most reported having been uninsured for an extended time—a year or more. Most enrollees joined HIFA because they lacked access to health insurance or could not afford insurance on the private market. The overwhelming majority (76 percent) of respondents believed that they would be uninsured in the absence of HIFA, with few considering either an employer plan or private purchase to be a viable option. Over 90 percent of enrollees correctly indicated they had insurance coverage. However, characterization of the type of coverage was problematic, particularly in the absence of the program-specific name. Conclusions HIFA enrolled a relatively sick, male, middle-aged population that tended to have been long-term uninsured—the kind of enrollees for which the programs were designed—with little apparent crowd-out of private insurance. The reported health status coupled with low incomes suggests that individual purchase is unlikely, a sentiment echoed by the respondents. In the absence of HIFA, most enrollees believed they would rejoin the ranks of the uninsured from where they came.
Political Elites and Labor Markets: Selection of American Cabinet Members, 1932—72

An empirical regularity has not been satisfactorily explained: since the administration of John Adams, those appointed to top political positions in the United States have had similar, high-status backgrounds. The article attempts to explain this finding by applying to presidential appointments insights gained from the study of labor markets, treating the president as an employer trying to fill positions with minimum expenditure of resources. Presidents appear to appoint similar sorts of people because they share both ends and means in making appointments. Presidents select appointees primarily on the basis of competence and in order to make political payoffs of specified types. In addition, they use screening devices commonly used by employers to choose among job candidates: they appoint people they know personally, people who are highly visible, and people who fit specified ascriptive criteria. Studies describing the social background of those in high positions in American government show that such officials tend to be of upper-status
MEASLES VIRUS GIANT CELL INDUCING FACTOR (FUSION FACTOR).

Abstract Treatment of a line of human amnion cells (AV3) with high titers of measles virus resulted in a rapid sequence of morphological alterations. Cell limits became less distinct within 30 minutes, and cytoplasmic fusion was complete within 5 hours. Measles virus rendered incapable of replication by irradiation with ultraviolet light retained the ability to induce these changes. The activity associated with untreated or ultraviolet inactivated measles virus which induces the rapid (within 5 hours) fusion of cultured cells has been termed fusion factor (FF). The cellular changes which occurred beyond 5 hours were studied employing measles virus inactivated by ultraviolet irradiation. Nuclear alterations induced by FF were related to the mitotic cycle. Interphase nuclei appeared to be unaffected, while nuclei undergoing mitosis developed aberrant forms. Nuclear events within individual syncytia were synchronized. The nuclear changes consisted of aggregation of chromatin, disappearance of nuclear membranes, central clumping of chromatin of adjacent nuclei, and finally condensation of cytoplasm around the mass of disordered nuclear material. Based upon studies of parameters affecting the fusion process, an assay was developed in which monolayers of AV3 cells were exposed to measles preparations at a temperature of 36°, pH 8.3, for 5 hours. The infectivity: FF ratios of measles virus pools averaged 10 5.8 . The attachment of FF to the cell membrane at 36° required an incubation time and in part remained accessible to antiserum neutralization or reversal for a period after attachment. There was a marked cellular specificity of FF activity. Human epithelial lines, AV3, WS, HeLa, KB, HEp-2, intestine (Henle), conjunctiva (Chang), and some sublines of Detroit-6 were sensitive to FF. The Attleson diploid epithelial line was insensitive. Human diploid fibroblasts (MAF) did not fuse, but underwent a “stringy degeneration.” Primary human cells and continuous and primary cells of monkey and lower animals were insensitive.
Correlation between maximum cervical dilatation at cesarean delivery and subsequent vaginal birth after cesarean delivery

Objective To determine whether the extent of cervical dilatation at cesarean delivery affects the subsequent vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rate. Methods Relevant records of the index pregnancy (group I) were reviewed for cervical dilatation at cesarean delivery, oxytocin use, indication, neonatal weight, and epidural use. The records of the subsequent pregnancy (group II) were reviewed for successful VBAC rates, neonatal weight, oxytocin, and epidural use. Results There were 1917 patients in the study. The indications for cesarean in group I were malpresentation (5.1%), fetal distress (14.9%), and arrest disorders (80%). In group II, the VBAC success rates were 73% for previous malpresentation and 68% for previous fetal distress. In those with previous cesarean deliveries for arrest disorders with cervical dilatation at 5 cm or less, the VBAC success rate was 67%. It was 73% for 6–9 cm dilatation and 13% for the fully dilated group ( P Conclusions Patients who attempt a VBAC may be counseled that a cesarean delivery at full dilatation is associated with a reduced chance of a subsequent successful VBAC.
Assessment of preschoolers at-risk with the WPPSI--R and the Stanford-Binet L-M

The purpose of this study was to provide data on the validity of using the WPPSI--R with 16 preschoolers who had been referred for psychological assessment. A comparison of the preschoolers' performance on the WPPSI--R and the Stanford-Binet L-M was made. Children ranged in age from 3-0 to 6-0 years, with a mean age of 4-5 yr. The correlations between WPPSI--R and Stanford-Binet L-M scores were strong; WPPSI--R Verbal IQ and Stanford-Binet L-M IQ, r = .85; WPPSI--R Performance IQ and Stanford-Binet L-M IQ, r = .75, and WPPSI--R Full Scale IQ and Stanford-Binet L-M IQ, r = .82. For this very small sample of children whose mean IQ was significantly below average, the WPPSI--R appeared to assess validly their current intellectual functioning. Attention should be given concurrent and predictive validity as well as the efficiency of using the WPPSI--R with other and larger samples of referred children.
Modeling of diffusion through nanocomposite membranes

The diffusion process of a simple fluid through a complex polymer/clay nanocomposite membrane embedding a complex interface is modeled using the generalized bracket/General Equation for Non-Equilibrium Reversible and Irreversible Coupling (GENERIC) formalism. The complex interface is characterized, on a mesoscopic level of description, by a second-order area tensor A. A set of governing equations describing the time evolution of concentration, flux, internal structure (of the complex polymeric membrane) and area tensor is obtained. Four parameters appear in the governing equations. Two parameters characterize the importance of elasticity and mixing and the remaining two parameters account for the effects of the complex interface. An extension of Fick's second law, which includes the convective fluxes due to the change of polymer internal structure and complex interface, is derived for the flux evolution. The model describes the diffusion process quantitatively quite well.
Interaction of monovalent ions with the water liquid-vapor interface - A molecular dynamics study

Results of molecular dynamics calculations are presented for a series of ions at infinite dilution near the water liquid-vapor interface. The free energies of ion transfer from the bulk to the interface are discussed, as are the accompanying changes of water structure at the surface and ion mobilities as a function of their proximity to the interface. It is shown that simple dielectric models do not provide an accurate description of ions at the water surface. The results of the study should be useful in the development of better models incorporating the shape and molecular structure of the interface.
Gonadal hormones and body temperature in rats: effects of estrous cycles, castration and steroid replacement.

Abstract The effects of estrous cycles, castration, subcutaneous steroid replacement, and intracranial steroid implants on the colonic temperatures were examined in 3 experiments. In Experiment 1 a rise in colonic temperature was observed at proestrus in intact females, and castration lowered the colonic temperatures of both males and females 1–2 hr before lights out. In Experiment 2 we tested the effects of 3 doses of progesterone and estradiol benzoate on the colonic temperatures of ovariectomized rats. Both hormones raised colonic temperature. The rise in colonic temperature was directly related to the progesterone dose, but it was inversely related to the dose of estradiol benzoate. In Experiment 3, progesterone and estradiol benzoate were implanted in the preoptic area of ovariectomized rats. Although estradiol benzoate in this site had no effect on colonic temperature, there was some suggestion that progesterone may increase colonic temperature when implanted in the preoptic area.
Empirical measurements of intrabody communication performance under varied physical configurations

Intrabody communication (IBC) is a wireless communications technology that uses a person's body as the transmission medium for imperceptible electrical signals. Because communication is limited to the vicinity of a person's body, ambiguities arising from communication between personal devices and environmental devices when multiple people are present can, in theory, be solved simply. Intrabody communication also potentially allows data to be transferred when a person touches an IBC-enabled device. We have designed and constructed an intrabody communication system, modeled after Zimmerman's original design, and extended it to operate up to 38.4Kbps and to calculate signal strength. In this paper, we present quantitative measurements of data error rates and signal strength while varying hand distance to transceiver plate, electrode location on the body, touch plate size and shape, and several other factors. We find that plate size and shape have only minor effects, but that the distance to plate and the coupling mechanism significantly effect signal strength. We also find that portable devices, with poor ground coupling, suffer more significant signal attenuation. Our goal is to promote design guidelines for this technology and identify the best contexts for its effective deployment.
Internet Usage in Undergraduate Management Science and Operations Management Courses

Abstract We surveyed 1,353 professors to learn if and how they use the Internet in instructing their introductory undergraduate management science (MS) and operations management (OM) courses. We surveyed the faculty instructing these courses, since the same faculty often teaches both areas. Thirty-five percent of the faculty teaching introductory MS or OM courses use the Internet in their instruction. The most reported applications of the Internet were: searching the Internet for information/data, gathering data about a specific company, retrieving an article, reading or downloading homework problems, and downloading a syllabus. The most common reasons for not using the Internet as part of course pedagogy were: lack of student access to computer laboratory resources, lack of faculty training in Internet-related areas, lack of relevant Websites, and faculty not being convinced about the learning students receive from its use.
Isolation and surface activity of soluble alveolar components

Abstract Fractional alveolar lavage from normal rabbits, in which pulmonary capillary blood is replaced by a non-wetting fluorocarbon contains little protein, but does contain large amounts of lipid. This lipid is 92% lecithin, most of which is saturated. Lavage from rabbits in which pulmonary capillary blood is present contains 70% lipid and 30% protein. This protein is electrophoretically identified to serum albumin. This lipid contains large amounts of unsaturated lecithins and fatty acids. The isolated saturated lecithin from lavage exhibits essentially zero surface tension upon compression, as does lavage fluid obtained from bloodless lungs. Addition of palmitic acid to the lecithin results in markedly higher minimum surface tension. Addition of various proteins “stabilizes” the lecithin monolayer against repeated compression, but in contrast to fatty acids does not prevent achievement of zero surface tension upon compression. These studies suggest that the alveolus is normally lined with saturated lecithin, essentially free of other lipids, protein or carbohydrate.
Environment Quality in a Marxian Model of Reproduction

In this paper, a two‐sector model of production and reproduction with waste residuals and environmental pollution is developed. Assuming a subsistence real wage rate, a fixed method of production for each sector, a surplus of employable workers, and full utilisation of both produced inputs, the model is solved for aggregate output and employment, the level of environmental quality and the mass of surplus value. An hypothesis is advanced about the impact of recent technical innovations on profitability and environmental quality.
Doped group-IV semiconductor nanocrystals

Doped semiconductor nanocrystals offer great potential for microelectronics and integrated optoelectronics. Nanocrystal based technology is promising for several fields of technology such as thin conducting films, light emitting devices, tunable lasers, transistors, photovoltaics, and less harmful alternatives to toxic fluorescent dyes for application in bio-imaging, to name a few. While properties of nanocrystals are tunable through their size, considerable research is underway to explore the influence of dopants on the properties of semiconductor nanocrystals. The introduction of dopants has been elusive for these confined structures due to their nanoscale sizes as well as the possibility of making them degenerate even with the addition of very small quantities of the dopant. Here, we present a facile, low-cost procedure that we have developed for the synthesis of non-degenerate doped semiconductor nanocrystals and study their properties.
X-ray tube potential, filtration, and detector considerations in dual-energy chest radiography

The effect of x-ray tube potential and prepatient and interdetector filtration in single exposure dual energy chest imaging has been studied employing a carefully benchmarked model. The analysis utilized published methodology. Noise in simulated lung and mediastinum fields of the aluminum (bone) and Lucite (soft tissue) images were studied at fixed entrance skin exposure (ESE) for commonly employed sandwich detector and sandwich imaging plate configurations. Our results indicate noise in the lung increases slowly with tube potential above 120 kVp, while noise in the mediastinum decreases rapidly. Also, at high tube potential (> or = 120 kVp) adding moderate amounts of prepatient K-edge filtration (approximately equal to 100 mg/cm2) while optimizing imaging conditions for the lung tends to decrease noise in the lungs by approximately equal to 30% while increasing noise in the mediastinum by a similar amount. Without K-edge prepatient filtration, noise in the lung is minimized with Cu interdetector filter weights near 400 mg/cm2. In the mediastinum noise is minimized with heavier interdetector filter and prepatient K-edge filter weights. Prepatient K-edge filter weights that minimize image noise in either field can increase the tube loading by factors ranging from 10 to 10(10). Systems designed with sandwich detectors using commercially available phosphors and coating weights can produce contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) as high as 50% of the theoretical limit (defined as an optimized system with a totally absorbing rear detector).
Late Development of Functional Subvalvar Stenosis After Repair of Truncus Arteriosus

The late development of subvalvar stenosis following truncus repair is described. It may occur in patients with an overriding truncal valve and a relatively small ventricular septal defect (VSD) closed with an inappropriately sized patch. Management consisted in enlarging the VSD and closing it with a large, tailored patch. Consideration should be given to enlarging the VSD at the time of original repair if the truncal valve is overriding.
Decoupled Disturbance Observers for Dual-Input-Single-Output Systems With Application to Vibration Rejection in Dual-Stage Hard Disk Drives

The disturbance observer (DOB) has been one effective robust control approach for servo enhancement in single-input-single-output systems. This paper presents a new extension of the DOB idea to dual-input-single-output systems, and discusses an optimal Q-filter design. The proposed decoupled disturbance observer (DDOB) provides a flexible approach to use the most suitable actuators for compensating disturbances at different frequencies. Such a scheme is helpful, e.g., for modern dual-stage hard disk drives, where enhanced servo design is becoming more and more essential in the presence of audio vibrations.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The generation of diversity by Haemophilus influenzae

This short article has described how microsatellites can be markers for highly adaptable genes responsible for both intra- and interstrain diversity in H. influenzae. Such genes are often associated with allelic polymorphisms and have a heterogeneous distribution. Variation in the length of repetitive sequences is a key factor in the rapid rate of change in gene expression associated with these loci. The contribution of characteristics of microsatellites other than the length of the repetitive tract to the rate of on–off switching has yet to be explored in detail and several questions remain. Why is the same nucleotide sequence often found in different microsatellites in genes of related function? What is the effect on the mutation rate of the different nucleotides and number of nucleotides forming each repeat unit? Finally, the possibility that trans-acting elements affect the rate of slipped-strand mispairing and the repair of these mutations has been raised and merits further investigation14xHypermutation in pathogenic bacteria: frequent phase variation in meningococci is a phenotypic trait of a specialized mutator biotype. Bucci, C. Mol. Cell. 1999; 3: 435–445Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (94)See all References14. An understanding of the multiple factors affecting these hypermutable loci will facilitate future studies to determine how and when this plethora of phenotypes promotes survival.
Omental pedicle grafting in the treatment of postcardiotomy sternotomy infection.

• Postcardiotomy sternal infection occurred in 20 (2%) of 1007 patients undergoing cardiac surgery between September 1985 and December 1987, a 10-fold increase over the preceding 33 months (4 [0.24%] of 1627 patients). Cultures were sterile in 5 patients and yielded staphylococci in 12 and a variety of bowel organisms in 3. The cause for the increased occurrence of sternal wound infection is unclear after multivariate analysis, although infections have precipitously dropped subsequent to changing to cefuroxime sodium antibiotic prophylaxis. Treatment has evolved to appropriate antibiotics and early debridement of involved sternum and cartilage. Rewiring the sternum is not attempted. If gross purulence is not present, primary closure is accomplished using muscle flaps (2 patients) or omental pedicle grafts (17 patients). In the presence of gross purulence, the wound is packed open for 5 days and then closed in the above fashion. Two patients required skin grafts for primary closure. The omental pedicle flap is preferred due to simplicity and improved coverage of the sternal defect inferiorly. Nineteen patients healed primarily. A superficial wound infection was drained in 1 patient. Midline incisional hernias developed in 3 muscular patients. Omentum is now harvested through a left subcostal incision. Hospital stay was under 2 weeks in 13 patients. One death occurred due to multisystem failure prior to completion of wound closure. In our experience, early sternal debridement and omental pedicle grafting with primary closure is appropriate therapy for postcardiotomy sternotomy infections. The presence of gross purulence may require 5 days of open packing prior to omental grafting. No significant complications occurred, and mortality was low. A left subcostal incision for omental harvesting is utilized to avoid the occurrence of delayed incisional hernias. ( Arch Surg . 1989;124:1192-1194)
The Dysregulation Profile Predicts Cannabis Use in the Offspring of Teenage Mothers

Background. Offspring of teenage mothers are at greater risk of early drug use. Research has identified a child behavior checklist (CBCL) profile for children with high levels of comorbid behavior problems, the dysregulation profile (DP), as another risk factor for drug use. Method. Teenage girls (12–18 years old; 71% African-American, 29% White) were recruited during pregnancy. Data were collected during pregnancy and when offspring were 6, 10, and 14 years old (n = 318). Mothers completed the CBCL when children were at ages 6 and 10, and children who scored 60 or higher on all 3 DP subscales (aggression, anxiety/depression, and attention problems) were categorized as dysregulated. At ages 10 and 14, the offspring (50% male, 50% female) reported on their cannabis use and completed the childhood depression inventory (CDI). Results. DP at age 6 and depressive symptoms at age 14 predicted recent cannabis use in the offspring. There was a significant interaction between race and pubertal timing such that White offspring who matured earlier were at greater risk of recent cannabis use. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that it may be possible to identify a subset of children at risk of dual diagnosis as early as age 6.
Universal lower bounds on eigenvalue splittings for one dimensional Schrödinger operators

We provide lower bounds on the eigenvalue splitting for −d2/dx2+V(x) depending only on qualitative properties ofV. For example, ifV is C∝ on [a, b] andE n ,En−1 are two successive eigenvalues of −d2/dx2+V withu(a)=u(b)=0 boundary conditions, and if\(\lambda = \mathop {\max }\limits_{E \in (E_{n - 1} ,E_n );x \in (a,b)} |E - V(x)|^{1/2} \), then $$E_n - E_{n - 1} \geqq \pi \lambda ^2 \exp \left[ { - \lambda (b - a)} \right]$$ . The exponential factor in such bounds are saturated precisely in tunneling examples. Our results arenot restricted toV's of compact support, but only require\(E_n< \mathop {\lim }\limits_{\overline {x \to \infty } } V(x)\).
A School Shooting Plot Foiled.

Dinkes, Cataldi, and Lin-Kelly (2007) claims that 78% of public schools reported one or more violent incidents during the 2005/2006 school year. School shootings are a rare but real threat on school campuses. Shootings at private schools are even less frequent with only a few recorded examples in the United States. This case study examines how a Christian K-12 day school averted a potential school shooting incident on campus, examines the affect on students and staff, and extrapolates a variety of lessons for students, parents, and educators. Educators in particular must remain vigilant and recognize the warning signs exhibited by troubled students.
A Systematic Review on US-Based Community Health Navigator (CHN) Interventions for Cancer Screening Promotion—Comparing Community- Versus Clinic-Based Navigator Models

This study synthesized lessons learned from US-based community and clinic health navigator (CHN) interventions on cancer screening promotion to identify characteristics of models and approaches for addressing cancer disparities. The combination terms "cancer screening" and "community health workers or navigators" or "patient navigators" were used in searching Medline, CINAHL, and PsycInfo. A total of 27 articles published during January 2005∼April 2014 were included. Two CHN models were identified: community-based (15 studies) and clinic/hospital-based (12 studies). While both models used the term "navigators," most community-based programs referred them as community health workers/navigators/advisors, whereas clinic-based programs often called them patient navigators. Most community-based CHN interventions targeted specific racial/ethnic minority or rural groups, while clinic-based programs mostly targeted urban low income or mixed ethnic groups. Most community-based CHN programs outreached members from community networks, while clinic-based programs commonly worked with pre-identified in-service clients. Overall, regardless model type, CHNs had similar roles and responsibilities, and interventions demonstrated effective outcomes. Our review identified characteristics of CHN interventions with attention to different settings. Lessons learned have implication on the dissemination and implementation of CHN interventions for cancer screening promotion across setting and target groups.
In situ atomic force microscopy nanoindentation of lithiated silicon nanopillars for lithium ion batteries

Abstract In this study, atomic force microscopy based nanoindentation techniques are used to measure the in situ mechanical properties of thin film, nanometer sized amorphous-silicon nanopillars (pillar diameters of 1000 nm, 500 nm, and 200 nm) at various stages of lithiation. The pillar indentation modulus and hardness are measured ex situ as-fabricated, in situ during lithiation at two different potentials (or stages of lithiation, 50 mV and 10 mV), and in situ after delithiation at 2 V. The measured modulus of the pristine amorphous silicon nanopillars was 74.7 ± 12.1 GPa. The hardness of the pristine pillars depended on depth and the contact conditions. In general, the mechanical properties of the nanopillars decreased with increased degrees of lithiation and only partially recovered upon delithiation. The inability of the silicon to recover the as fabricated mechanical properties indicates overall degradation of the pillar during only one lithiation–delithiation cycle, which could only be directly measured in situ using the employed atomic force microscopy based technique.
Assessing the roles and training needs of educational superintendents in Palestine

Purpose – The purpose of this research study was to examine the role perceptions of superintendents and their supervisors in Palestine regarding the roles and training needs of superintendents. It was part of a larger study conducted by the Department of Administration and Educational Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University.Design/methodology/approach – A grounded theory approach was used in this study. Data were collected by interviewing 16 superintendents and four general directors using guided qualitative interviews, in addition to examining Ministry of Education documents and archival data.Findings – The grounded theory approach analysis revealed that superintendents and general directors held variant perceptions regarding the roles and training needs of superintendents. Most superintendents felt they were ill prepared for the job and had to rely on the Ministry of Education for support and direction. They perceived their role as a combination of educational managers and educational leader...