cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of the centers for disease control and prevention childhood lead poisoning risk questionnaire to predict blood lead elevations in pregnant women

Objective To assess the accuracy of a questionnaire developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), given to pregnant women for identification of children at risk for lead poisoning. Methods The study population consisted of all 314 new prenatal patients enrolled in health department clinics in 1990–1992. Lead was measured in venous blood, and patients completed written questionnaires to gather information about lead exposure risk factors. The relationship between elevated maternal blood lead levels (at or greater than 10 μg/dL or 0.483 μmol/L) and responses to the CDC questionnaire and other questions were examined using x2 statistical analysis. Results Two hundred ninety-nine women provided responses to questions about lead exposure risk. Thirty-nine women (13%) had elevated blood lead levels. A woman with a positive response to at least one CDC question was more likely to have elevated blood lead than a woman who answered negatively to all four CDC questions (relative risk = 2.39, 95% confidence interval 1.17–4.89; P =.01). Using the CDC definition of high risk (“yes” to at least one question), the questionnaire had a sensitivity of 75.7% and a negative predictive value of 93.1%. A questionnaire that combined housing conditions, smoking status, and high consumption of canned foods had a sensitivity of 89.2% and a negative predictive value of 96.4%. A high prevalence of elevated blood lead in children living with women with elevated blood lead was observed. Conclusion Querying pregnant women about risk factors for lead exposure can aid in assessing prenatal lead exposure risk. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of the CDC questionnaire, when used with high-risk women, are comparable to its reported accuracy in young children.
Carbon nanotubes as optical biomedical sensors

Biosensors are important tools in biomedical research. Moreover, they are becoming an essential part of modern healthcare. In the future, biosensor development will become even more crucial due to the demand for personalized-medicine, point-of care devices and cheaper diagnostic tools. Substantial advances in sensor technology are often fueled by the advent of new materials. Therefore, nanomaterials have motivated a large body of research and such materials have been implemented into biosensor devices. Among these new materials carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are especially promising building blocks for biosensors due to their unique electronic and optical properties. Carbon nanotubes are rolled-up cylinders of carbon monolayers (graphene). They can be chemically modified in such a way that biologically relevant molecules can be detected with high sensitivity and selectivity. In this review article we will discuss how carbon nanotubes can be used to create biosensors. We review the latest advancements of optical carbon nanotube based biosensors with a special focus on near-infrared (NIR)-fluorescence, Raman-scattering and fluorescence quenching.
Limitations of postmortem assessment of human coronary artery size and luminal narrowing: Differential effects of tissue fixation and processing on vessels with different degrees of atherosclerosis

Numerous studies have utilized histologic sections of coronary arteries as the standard for testing the validity of the angiographic determination of coronary artery dimensions. However, little attention has been given to artifactual dimensional changes that occur during fixation and histologic processing of tissues (dehydration, clearing, embedding, sectioning and staining). Using planimetric techniques, the dimensional changes that occurred with fixation and processing were quantitated in 61 coronary artery segments with minimal or moderate to severe atherosclerosis obtained from 12 patients studied at autopsy. In vessels with minimal atherosclerosic narrowing, fixation and processing resulted in a decrease in total vessel cross-sectional area and luminal cross-sectional area (p ≤ 0.05), whereas absolute wall area (total vessel cross-sectional area minus luminal cross-sectional area) did not change (p = NS). These disproportionate changes resulted in an alteration in the relation between lumen and wall areas so that luminal cross-sectional area decreased from 47.6 ± 8.5% of the total vessel crosssectional area observed before fixation to 36.2 ± 7% after processing (p This study demonstrates that: 1) fixation and processing are associated with disproportionate dimensional changes in human coronary arteries, and 2) different dimensional changes occur in coronary artery segments with different degrees of atherosclerosis. Therefore, this study emphasizes the limitations of measuring coronary artery dimensions and estimating the degree of luminal narrowing in routinely prepared histologic sections.
Ecdysteroid-titre reduction and developmental arrest of last-instar Heliothis virescens larvae by calyx fluid from the parasitoid Campoletis sonorensis

Abstract Fifth-instar Heliothis virescens larvae did not pupate after injections of Campoletis sonorensis calyx fluid in or before the burrow-digging stage of development. Arrested development occurred in 40% of larvae injected at the cell-formation stage. Further experiments showed that the particles in calyx fluid were responsible for developmental arrest. Arrested development due to calyx fluid could be reversed by injecting 10 μg of either ecdysone or 20-hydroxyecdysone, although a second injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone was needed for some larvae 3 days after the first treatment. Ecdysteroid production ceased for up to 10 days in 5th-instar H. virescens after calyx-fluid injection. After 10 days, some experimental larvae began to produce ecdysteroids again but remained developmentally arrested. The head, thorax, or abdomen of larvae were isolated by ligations and calyx fluid injected into the isolated body region. After 24 h, ligatures were released and the larvae observed for developmental arrest. Only injections into the isolated thorax stopped development. This, along with ecdysteroid data, indicated that C. sonorensis calyx fluid may directly affect the prothoracic glands of 5th-instar H. virescens.
Effect of Supplemental Fish Meal on the Lactation and Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cows

Abstract The influence of high protein diets (21% CP, DM basis), containing varied percentages of RUP, on lactation performance and fertility was evaluated. Sixty-two Holstein cows (65% multiparous) were blocked by age and randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design from d 12 to 125 postpartum. Factor 1 was 0 or 3.5% fish meal diet, factor 2 was location (Calan door versus free stall), and factor 3 was parity (first versus second or later). The soybean meal diet consisted of alfalfa hay, corn silage, barley, and soybean meal. The fish meal diet contained 3.5% fish meal (ruminant grade menhaden) that replaced a portion of the soybean meal. Cows fed the fish meal diet (40% RUP) had DMI, BW, and body condition similar to those of cows offered the soybean meal diet (34% RUP). Cows receiving the fish meal supplement tended to have higher milk protein production throughout the trial, higher milk production during the first 6 wk, and significantly lower ruminal ammonia concentrations than cows receiving the soybean meal diet. Differences in reproductive performance were not significant except for a diet by housing location interaction for conception rates from first AI.
The effect of individual differences of cognitive style on judgments of document relevance

The possibility that the relevance decision may be affected by individual differences in openness to information is examined. Openness to information is operationally defined by a series of cognitive style variables (openmindedness, rigidity, category width, locus of control, anxiety, and defensiveness). A multiple-regression technique was utilized to simultaneously test the effect of cognitive variables and previously tested variables tapping judges' interest and expertise in the problem area. Subjects made relevance decisions on a randomly generated list of citations for a question provided by the experimenter. Divergent behavior on the dependent variable (number of citations deemed relevant) by two groups of subjects necessitated splitting the initial sample of 48 into two independent groups of 25 and 23. The pattern of the empirical results conforms to the prediction that approximately 30% of the relevance-decision variance is attributable to variables tapping openness to information. The empirical results do not reach the normative criterion of α = 0.05. It is argued that this finding is due to a decrease in power resulting from the decrease in sample size rather than from an inadequate or erroneous model. The results are discussed in terms of the relationship between information systems and the “epistemic who”.
Stimulation of β1 Integrin Induces Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 and Modulates Cell Migration

Interactions between integrins and tyrosine kinase receptors can modulate a variety of cell functions. We observed a cooperative interaction between the β1 integrin and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3 or Flt4) that appeared to be required for cell migration. By using VEGFR-3-transfected 293 cells (293/VEGFR-3) or primary dermal microvascular endothelial cells (DMEC), we found that stimulation with either soluble or immobilized extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, collagen or fibronectin (FN), resulted in the increased tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGFR-3 in the absence of a cognate ligand. This increased tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGFR-3 was diminished by pretreatment with a blocking antibody against the β1integrin. Cross-linking with anti-β1 integrin antibody induced a similar degree of tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGFR-3. Stimulation with collagen or FN induced an association between β1 integrin and VEGFR-3 in both 293/VEGFR-3 and primary DMEC cells. Collagen or FN-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGFR-3 was inhibited by treatment with cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of actin polymerization. Collagen or FN was able to induce the migration of 293/VEGFR-3 or DMEC cells to a limited extent. However, migration was dramatically enhanced when a gradient of the cognate ligand, VEGF-D, was added. VEGF-D failed to induce cell migration in the absence of ECM proteins. Introducing a mutation at the kinase domain of VEGFR-3 or treatment with blocking antibody against either VEGFR-3 or β1 integrin inhibited cell migration induced by ECM and VEGF-D, indicating that signals from both β1 integrin and VEGFR-3 are required for this cell function.
Severe Obesity: Effects on Foot Mechanics During Walking:

The purpose of our study was to determine the effects of severe obesity on the foot mechanics of adult females. Twenty-nine adult females between the ages of 20 and 48 years volunteered as subjects for this investigation. The subjects were separated into a severely obese (O) group (body mass index = 41.14 ± 2.61; N = 16) and a normal weight control group (body mass index = 20.84 ± 0.47; N = 13). A Locam camera (100 Hz) positioned perpendicular to the subjects’ posterior aspect was used to film the rearfoot movement of the subjects during the final 15 sec of a 10 min treadmill walk. The O group had a significantly greater touchdown angle (P = .05), more total eversion range of motion (P = .001), and a faster maximum eversion velocity (P < .001). Moreover, analysis of dynamic foot angles indicated that the O group had significantly (P = .003) more forefoot abduction. Finally, anthropometric data revealed statistically different (P < .001) Q angle measurements between the O and control groups. The results of...
Are echinocandins better than azoles for invasive candidiasis

Antifungal therapy has advanced tremendously in the past decade, with multiple new agents for systemic fungal infections that have a broad spectrum of activity and are well-tolerated. There is usually more than one acceptable therapeutic option for many diseases, and this is true in particular of candidiasis. Fluconazole has been the drug of choice for most clinical syndromes of candidiasis, due to its tolerability, effectiveness, and ease of administration. However, the echinocandin class of antifungals, comprised of caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafingin, has emerged as the preferred choice in the therapy of invasive candidiasis and candidemia. Their potent fungicidal activity and minimal toxicity have made them first-line drugs for this indication. In certain clinical settings, they may even be agents of first choice. Nevertheless, recent trends in echinocandin resistance demonstrated with Candida glabrata mandate ongoing surveillance, and continued trends may impact upon future antifungal selection.
Role of antibody in cytotoxicity by lymphocytes armed against 253j bladder cancer line

The role of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in cytotoxicity mediated by antibody-armed effector cells was examined. Cytotoxicity mediated by unsensitized human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) directed against the human bladder cancer cell line, 253J, was significantly enhanced when MNC were pre-incubated with a rabbit anti-253J serum and then washed free of unbound antibody. Non-adherent, Fc receptor positive MNC were the effector cells and the arming antibody was IgG. Supernatants of 24-hour cultures and armed MNC exhibited antibody activity in ADCC assays, suggesting the ADCC was in part responsible for the arming phenomenon.
Differences in Workplace, Demographic and Severity Measures between Occupational and Nonoccupational Low Back Pain Patients

Occupational and nonoccupational low back pain patients within the same diagnostic category were evaluated on workplace, demographic, and severity measures. The findings indicated that there were significant differences in psychosocial and physical demand workplace parameters but not in demographic or severity measures. Specifically, psychosocial measures of job control, role conflict and job satisfaction were significantly different. The physical demand measures of exposure to sitting, lifting, pushing and pulling as well as overall rating of physical demand were significantly different. It is hypothesized that no difference was found in severity measures because we controlled for diagnostic category.
The subjective importance of being religious and its effect on health and morale 14 years later

Abstract Longitudinal data were used to examine whether the subjective importance attached to being a religious person influenced health or psychological well-being 14 years later. About two-thirds of the panel reported consistently positive attitudes toward being religious throughout the study; about 16 percent were consistently negative in terms of the importance of being religious. In regression analyses, 1977 rating of the importance of being religious had no predictive value in understanding variation in health or psychological well-being in 1991. Religious affiliation and frequency of attending religious functions were also unrelated to health or psychological well-being. These results call into question conclusions of earlier reviews of the literature.
VisionManager: A Computer Environment for Design Evolution Capture:

Computer-based design evolution capture in a multi-disciplinary project environment remains a difficult problem. This paper describes VisionManager, a prototype for design evolution capture, visualization, and reuse in support of multidisciplinary collaborative team work. Based on our research experience, our hypothesis is that one of the key factors in reducing life-cycle cost is improved communication, coordination and cooperation among team members. VisionManager accommodates and integrates many perspectives within a design and manufacturing enterprise and allows team members to: (1) augment shared graphic design models with the team members’ design intents, interests, and responsibilities, (2) capture versions at different levels of granularity, such as, feature, discipline perspective, and project level, (3) create private, public, and consensus versions in a hierarchical archive, (4) infer shared interests and route change notifications with regard to a modified feature or perspective, (5) visualize the design evolution of features, discipline perspectives, and the overall project based on captured semantics, and (6) reuse previous alternatives. VisionManager is distinguished from the state-of-the-art file-based document management systems and proposes a modelbased and content-based approach for design evolution capture, visualization, and reuse.
SU‐E‐E‐04: The Doctor of Medical Physics, a New Professional Degree

Purpose: In the last 2 to 3 decades, rapid changes have occurred in the fields of radiology oncology prompting a need to rethink training required for medical physicists. It is clear that traditional approaches of obtaining an academic M.S. or Ph.D. degree, coupled with minimal on‐the‐job training, have not produced an acceptable success rate for credentialing by the American Board or Radiology (ABR). As a result, the ABR has taken steps to define required training criteria prior to examination in an attempt to resolve this matter. Methods: In 2006, initial steps began at Texas Tech University to design a new doctoral degree to prepare students to successfully enter and compete in the field of medical physics. This 5‐year degree, the Doctor of Medical Physics, is a clinical degree patterned after the MD degree. This is a new degree program that is complimentary to and not competitive with traditional M.S. and Ph.D. degrees designed to prepare students for academic careers. The Doctor of Medical Physics is appropriate for those physicists who wish to focus their careers in clinical medical physics in an interactive role with their physician colleagues. The first year is indeed the first year of medical school, with the second and third years focused on an interdisciplinary didactic program including physics, biology, mathematics, and related topics. Years 4 and 5 include a structured residency program with graduation contingent on successful completion of the written ABR Examinations. The opportunity exists for a final fellowship year as the student prepares for the oral boards. Results: In 2010, this degree was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACS‐COC) and by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Conclusions: Other schools in Texas are in various stages of implementing similar degree programs.
The 1995 United Nations agreement on straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks: A critique

Problems associated with the failure of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to address adequately the management of straddling stocks have become readily apparent in the period since that treaty's adoption in 1982. The 1995 United Nations Agreement for the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks provides a significant attempt by the international community to deal with those problems. The new agreement incorporates the concept of precaution, strengthens the role of regional organizations in the management of straddling fish stocks, and encourages consideration of fisheries in a wider ecosystem context. While the provisions of the Straddling Stocks Agreement further develop and enhance the international law applicable to fishery management beyond that contained in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, a number of potential problems are posed as the process of implementation of the agreement is undertaken. This article examines the provisions of t...
Investigating High School Students' Perceptions of Digital Badges in Afterschool Learning

This paper investigates high school students' perceptions of the opportunities and challenges of using digital badges to recognize and reward the skills and achievements they acquire in an afterschool science education program. Focus groups and usability tests were conducted with 10 students during the design of a badge system prototype for use in the program. We found that students recognized opportunities for personal empowerment in their use of badges, but also expressed concerns about sharing badges in various online contexts. The findings provide new insight into the values and goals that learners bring to discussions of digital badges in education. These insights hold relevance for designers of education-based badge systems as well as educators seeking to introduce badges into their practice.
Introduction: Global Processes, National Institutions, Local Bricolage: Shaping Law in an Era of Globalization

The articles by Carruthers and Halliday and by Hagan, Levi, and Ferrales in the present issue of Law and Social Inquiry provide a wonderful opportunity to carry out a brief reflection on the broader field of research on globalization and law. As the discussant and organizer/chair, respectively, of a panel on “Law between Globalization and National Institutions,” from which these two articles emerged, we use the following pages to: (1) show how both articles exemplify, in two different ways, what we call the “process turn” in globalization research, (2) identify four theoretical themes these articles speak to, relating them to the broader literature, and (3) draw some lessons for future law and society scholarship in an age of globalization. 1
Perception of Changes in Certain Exteroceptive Stimuli

Although cybernetic models of one sort or another have become quite common in behavioral research, and although these models theoretically require a capacity for system detection of changes in error, no general psychophysical description of the individual human being9s ability to discriminate different rates of stimulation is available. An initial survey of this type has been attempted and is reported here. For reasons which appear to be related to the biological mechanisms underlying sensory information processing, it is concluded, first, that ancillary cues of rate-related final magnitude are more valuable than cues of stimulus duration; second, that direct attention to on-going change is less precise than attention to final values only; and third, that differences in isochronal stimulus rates occurring in place or extent are more readily perceived than differences in isochronal rate of change in energy content, at least for the stimuli and ranges examined.
Filterbank multicarrier for underwater communications

Underwater acoustic (UWA) communication has been the topic of many recent research publications. Because of small ratio of the carrier frequency over the signal bandwidth, UWA channels may be categorized as super broadband channels. UWA channels are also highly dispersive in both time (because of widely spread multipaths) and frequency (because of fast variation of the gain of each path). In order to combat time dispersion of UWA channels, it has been proposed to deploy orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technique with a sufficiently long cyclic prefix (CP). Moreover, to keep the bandwidth efficiency of the transmission high, long OFDM symbols that are at least four times the length of the CP should be used. This leads to an OFDM system in which channel variation over each OFDM symbol may be unacceptably large, thus, results in a significant level of intercarrier interference (ICI). In this paper, we propose the use of a particular class of filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) systems that are optimized for robust performance in the doubly dispersive UWA channels. The FBMC method which we use is a particular implementation of the filtered multitone (FMT) that we have recently developed. Real data from an at-sea experiment (ACOMM10) are used to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed FMT system over OFDM.
Psychiatric Pharmacogenomics in Pediatric Psychopharmacology

This article provides an overview of where psychiatric pharmacogenomic testing stands as an emerging clinical tool in modern psychotropic prescribing practice, specifically in the pediatric population. This practical discussion is organized around the state of psychiatric pharmacogenomics research when choosing psychopharmacologic interventions in the most commonly encountered mental illnesses in youth. As with the rest of the topics on psychopharmacology for children and adolescents in this publication, a clinical vignette is presented, this one highlighting a clinical case of a 16 year old genotyped during hospitalization for recalcitrant depression.
Uplink relaying in hybrid wireless networks with out-of-cell interference reduction

The next generation broadband access networks must provide high speed bidirectional data channels and support more concurrent subscribers than ever before. While mega-bits-per-second data rates have been demonstrated for the downlink channels, progress on uplink has been slow. We propose a hybrid architecture for CDMA uplink that seamlessly integrates short-range radio and WCDMA interfaces in the same network. In our scheme, mobile stations (subscribers) can operate as Relaying Mobile Terminal (RMT) to relay uplink traffic for nearby mobile stations. Our analysis and simulations show that the deployment of RMTs significantly reduces the radio transmissions in the CDMA uplink. Moreover, the scheme results in a much lower out-of-cell interference to the neighboring network cells. The problem of finding the optimum RMT set turns out to be NP-hard. Several heuristics are evaluated in terms of RMT size and out-of-cell interference. In particular, we investigated a novel vertex cover based heuristic algorithm. Our method uses mobile pilot signals and mobile location to estimate a interference function for each node. This function is then used in selecting a maximum matching for the candidate RMT set. Simulation results are somewhat surprising: the simple greedy algorithm has very close performance to that of the optimum algorithm when only the RMT size is concerned. When out-of-cell interference is considered, the proposed algorithm outperforms both greedy and 2-approximation algorithm.
Status of the electroweak theory

The status of the electroweak theory is discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the quantum corrections, constraints on new physics and recent developments concerning the KMC matrix, B0 - B0 oscillations, CP violation, neutral currents, vector boson masses and solar neutrinos.
Reducing seismic vulnerability in low to moderate risk areas

Argues that, while the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (USA) is found to be a low to moderate risk area in terms of seismic vulnerability, it is vulnerable to future episodes which could be quite threatening to a sizeable population. Degree of seismic vulnerability varies across the Commonwealth. Pursuant to assessing Pennsylvania’s earthquake preparedness, the Commonwealth’s various state agencies (n = 12) and the campuses comprising Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (n = 14) were asked to complete a mail‐questionnaire which sought to determine their degree of earthquake experience, risk assessment activity, mitigation activity, and planning for response and recovery. A response rate of 78 per cent was attained. The experience, activity, and planning levels were found to be consistently low. These findings are consistent with research literature which describes the circumstances under which hazard reduction is likely to occur.
Expression and cyclic variations of catechol-O-methyl transferase in human endometrial stroma.

Objective To investigate the role of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) in the regulation of estrogen metabolism in human endometrium. Design Laboratory study. Setting Academic research laboratory. Intervention(s) Immunohistochemistry was used to localize COMT protein in human endometrial tissues. Catechol-O-methyl transferase promoter–luciferace reporter gene transactivation assay was used to assess COMT promoter activity in response to estrogen and progesterone treatment in primary human endometrial stroma (pHES) cells. Catechol-O-methyl transferase protein and mRNA expression were determined by Western blot and/or real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effect of 2-methoxy estrogen treatment on DNA proliferation, B-cell lymphoma 2, and vascular epithelial growth factor protein expression were assessed by Hoechst and Western blot analyses, respectively. Main Outcome Measure(s) Catechol-O-methyl transferase protein and mRNA subcellular localization and expression in human endometrial tissues and pHES cells. Result(s) Catechol-O-methyl transferase protein expression in human endometrial tissues was up-regulated in the proliferative phase and down-regulated in the midsecretory phase of the menstrual cycle. Estrogen induced a dose-dependent increase in COMT proximal promotor–luciferace transactivation in pHES cells whereas progesterone inhibited it. Estrogen up-regulated soluble COMT protein isoform expression whereas the addition of progesterone down-regulated it in pHES cells. High doses of 2-methoxy estrogen inhibited endometrial stroma cell proliferation, and down-regulated B-cell lymphoma 2 and vascular epithelial growth factor protein expression. Conclusion(s) Catechol-O-methyl transferase expression is hormonally regulated in human endometrial stroma. Catechol-O-methyl transferase product, 2-methoxy estrogen, inhibited endometrial stroma cell proliferation and decreased vascular epithelial growth factor and B-cell lymphoma 2 protein expression.
Annual Modulation Signature for the Direct Detection of Milky Way Wimps and Supergravity Models

An analysis is given of the annual modulation signal for the direct detection of relic neutralinos within the framework of supergravity unified models. It is shown that both the minimal and the non-minimal super-gravity (SUGRA) models can generate neutralino-proton cross sections at the level compatible with the signals reported by Bernabei et al. (the DAMA experiment at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory). Effects of proton stability on the analysis of the DAMA data in the minimal and the non-minimal SUGRA models are also discussed.
Complementary-type graphene inverters operating at room-temperature

Graphene has recently emerged as a promising candidate for a number of electronic applications. However, the fact that graphene is a zero band gap material by nature has raised many questions in terms of graphene's usefulness for digital applications. Several recent experimental studies have demonstrated graphene based inverters, but issues remain, such as, low inverter gain (0.044[1], 0.02[2]) and mismatch between input/output voltage levels[1,2]. Li et al.[3,4] reported top-gated complementary-like graphene inverters exhibiting a gain larger than 1. However, all data were obtained at 77K, and the implementation of a p-type and n-type FET was accomplished by relying on the intrinsic dependence of graphene's transfer characteristics on the supply voltage, an effect that is hardly controllable and that poses major problems for further device optimization. In this paper, focusing on inverter characteristics without attempting to build a highly scaled device, we report the first room-temperature, electrostatic doping controlled complementary graphene inverter with a gain larger than one.
RESPONSES ON THE FAMOUS SAYINGS TEST OF PROFESSIONAL AND NON-PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL IN A ,MEDICAL POPULATION

Sumnzary.-The purpose of this study was to contribute additional normative data €or the Famous Sayings Test to earlier reported findings. The investigation was carried out with physicians before and after training, and nurses before and afrer training (N = 101 ). Results indicated hat experienced nurses are highest in Conventional Mores and interns-residents lowest. Fears of Failure data suggests that experienced nurses are significantly lower than student nurses (p < .01) and staff physicians (p < .05), but not interns-residents. In contrast, the Hostility scale analyses were non-significant across all groups. Further, while student nurses oblained the highest scores in Social Acquiescence, these findings revealed strong trend differences from earlier student nurse data. Problems in regard to the usefulness of the Famous Sayings Test were discussed. The purpose of this study was to contribute additional normative data for the Famous Sayings Test to the initial findings reported by Bass (1958, 1961) and Braun and Dube (1963). Further, relationships were evaluated within the present daca with respect to professional status and experience. It has been indicated that Famous Sayings (FS) scores have proved to be sensitive to differences among regional, educational and occupational groups, to an extent that it has not been feasible to construct a single interpretative normative scale (Gaier & Bass, 1959; Hoffman, 1959). Rather, a test of this type must rely upon sub-group normative data, homogeneous with respect to occupation (Bass, 1958). While normative data are available for students, school teachers, supervisors, salesmen and prison inmates, there are no population sub-samples representing professional occupations. Additionally, while Bass (1958) has reported FS daca for a student nurse population, there is no information as to whether or not the scale pattern for this group varies significantly as a function of professional experience. Hence, the present investigation was carried out wich the expectation of achieving normative data for a professional group of physicians, before and after training, and nurses, before and after training. An analysis within and between pairs of these allied groups should show differences within groups as a function of experience and berween groups as a complex function of education.
Destroying cycles in digraphs

For a simple directed graph G with no directed triangles, let β(G) be the size of the smallest subset X ∈ E(G) such that G\X has no directed cycles, and let γ(G) denote the number of unordered pairs of nonadjacent vertices in G. Chudnovsky, Seymour, and Sullivan showed that β(G) ≤ γ(G), and conjectured that β(G) ≤ $\tfrac{{\gamma (G)}} {2}$. In this paper we prove that β(G)<0.88γ(G).
Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection Inhibits Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Responses in Primary Macrophages

Despite robust host immune responses the betaherpesvirus murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is able to establish lifelong infection. This capacity is due at least in part to the virus utilizing multiple immune evasion mechanisms to blunt host responses. Macrophages are an important cell for MCMV infection, dissemination, and latency despite expression in the host of multiple cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), that can induce an antiviral state in macrophages or other cells. In this study, we found that MCMV infection of bone marrow-derived macrophages inhibited TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 surface expression and mRNA expression in infected cells via expression of immediate early and/or early viral genes. MCMV infection blocked TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB. This inhibition of TNF-α signaling was explained by a decrease in TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNFR2 that was due to decreased mRNA for the latter. These findings provide a mechanism by which MCMV can evade the effects of an important host cytokine in macrophages.
Cells exposed to nanosecond electrical pulses exhibit biomarkers of mechanical stress

Exposure of cells to very short (<1 μs) electric pulses in the megavolt/meter range have been shown to cause disruption of the plasma membrane. This disruption is often characterized by the formation of numerous small pores (<2 nm in diameter) in the plasma membrane that last for several minutes, allowing the flow of ions into the cell. These small pores are called nanopores and the resulting damage to the plasma membrane is referred to as nanoporation. Nanosecond electrical pulse (nsEP) exposure can impart many different stressors on a cell, including electrical, electro-chemical, and mechanical stress. Thus, nsEP exposure is not a “clean” insult, making determination of the mechanism of nanoporation quite difficult. We hypothesize that nsEP exposure creates acoustic shock waves capable of causing nanoporation. Microarray analysis of primary adult human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) exposed to nsEP, indicated several genes associated with mechanical stress were selectively upregulated 4 h post exposure. The idea that nanoporation is caused by external mechanical force from acoustic shock waves has, to our knowledge, not been investigated. This work will critically challenge the existing paradigm that nanoporation is caused solely by an electric-field driven event and could provide the basis for a plausible explanation for electroporation.
Conversion of high molecular weight CRF (corticotropin-releasing factor) or PRF (prolactin-releasing factor) into lower molecular weight forms by boiling at low pH.

Abstract Extracts (0.1 N HCl) of bovine hypophyseal stalk had 2 CRF peaks, one (CRF-A) in the void volume with Sephadex G-100 chromatography, the other more retarded (CRF-B). PRF activity of the same extracts eluted in 2 peaks from G-100, one in the void volume (PRF-A) and the other (PRF-B) between A and B CRF peaks. On rechromatography, isolated CRF-A and PRF-A remained in the void volume. However, heating to 100 C at pH 1–2 for 15 min converted CRF-A to CRF-B and PRF-A to PRF-C, which eluted after PRF-B on G-100. We conclude that CRF or PRF can be converted from high to low molecular weight forms with full retention of biological activity.
A parameterization of RNA sequence space

RNA polymers are constructed from four distinct nucleotide bases. The sequence of these nucleotide bases determines both the folded conformation and the biological function of RNA. It recently has been established that disparately related functional classes of evolved RNA possess similar base composition biases despite a lack of sequence similarity, folded structure, or metabolic function. We have proposed that intrinsic constraints on RNA structure have imposed this convergent evolution in base composition. Here, we test this hypothesis by first calculating the distribution of the mean thermodynamic stability of random RNA sequences as a function of base composition. Then, using a model describing mutation (as a random walk in sequence space) and selection (which tends to increase thermodynamic stability), we relate the computed underlying distribution of conformational stability to empirically derived, tRNA and 5S rRNA sequence data. We find a close correspondence between predicted and observed distributions of base composition. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Seasat SAR identification of dry climate urban land cover

Digitally processed Seasat synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery of the Denver, Colorado area was examined to assess its potential for mapping urban land cover and the compatibility of SAR derived classes with those described in the U.S. Geological Survey classification system. The entire scene was interpreted to generate a small-scale land cover map. In addition, six subscene enlargements representative of urban land cover categories extant in the area were used as test sites for detailed analysis of land cover types. Two distinct approaches were employed and compared in examining the imagery - a visual interpretation of black-and-white positive transparencies and an automated-machine/visual interpretation. The latter used the Image 100 interactive image analysis system to generate land cover classes by density level slicing of the image frequency histogram.
Infrared and visible images of the eclipsed Moon of December 19, 1964☆

Abstract The Moon was scanned with 10″ arc resolution at 0.45 and 10–12 microns during the total lunar eclipse of December 19, 1964. It was found that the lunar surface exhibits a surprising amount of thermal inhomogeneity. Hundreds of thermal anomalies were observed, most of which can be identified with bright craters or white areas. Certain maria and portions of maria were found to be thermally enhanced over their environs during the eclipse. The analog signals recorded on magnetic tape were used to make visible and infrared images from the scan data.
Emergency department care: cost awareness by health care providers.

Abstract With the escalation of health care costs during the past decade, it has become increasingly important for the physician to be aware of the cost of various components of health care delivery. The following study was undertaken to ascertain the “cost awareness” of four different groups of health care providers. This was accomplished by having these groups estimate the cost of patient visits to an emergency department. Significant errors were observed in these cost estimations, and error trends were seen to occur that were independent of education and experience.
WE-E-J-6B-05: New Applications and Continuing Challenges in Image-Guided Therapy

Image guided therapy is based on the concept that knowledge of the location and orientation of a therapeutic process will allow for more specific therapy. That is, more of the therapeutic process can be applied directly to the volume of interest with reduced exposure of normal tissue to that process. This is true whether one considers surgery, ablation, radiation, gene therapy, chemo‐ therapy or implantation as you therapeutic process. Each application requires a multi‐dimensional assessment of location, orientation, temporal and functional constraints so that the proper techniques can be developed, tested and validated. It is the latter that represents the greatest ongoing challenge.
Security issues in network virtualization for the future Internet

Network virtualization is a key technology that is necessary to support diverse protocol suites in the future Internet. A virtualized network uses a single physical infrastructure to support multiple logical networks. Each logical network can provide its users with a custom set of protocols and functionalities. Much research work has focused on developing infrastructure components that can provide some level of logical isolation between virtual networks. However, these systems often assume a somewhat cooperative environment where all network infrastructure providers, virtual network operators, and users collaborate. As this technology matures and becomes more widely deployed, it is also important to consider the effects of and possible defenses against malicious operators and users. In this paper, we explore these security issues in network virtualization. In particular, we systematically discuss the relationship between all entities and potential attacks to illustrate the importance of considering security issues in the design and implementation of virtualized networks. We also present several ideas on how to proceed toward the goal of secure network virtualization in the future Internet.
Mesopic State: Cellular Mechanisms Involved in Pre- and Post-Synaptic Mixing of Rod and Cone Signals

At least twice daily our retinas move between a light adapted, cone-dominated (photopic) state and a dark-adapted, color-blind and highly light-sensitive rod-dominated (scotopic) state. In between is a rather ill-defined transitional state called the mesopic state in which retinal circuits express both rod and cone signals. The mesopic state is characterized by its dynamic and fluid nature: the rod and cone signals flowing through retinal networks are continually changing. Consequently, in the mesopic state the retinal output to the brain contained in the firing patterns of the ganglion cells consists of information derived from both rod and cone signals. Morphology, physiology, and psychophysics all contributed to an understanding that the two systems are not independent but interact extensively via both pooling and mutual inhibition. This review lays down a rationale for such rod-cone interactions in the vertebrate retinas. It suggests that the important functional role of rod-cone interactions is that they shorten the duration of the mesopic state. As a result, the retina is maintained in either in the (rod-dominated) high sensitivity photon counting mode or in the second mode, which emphasizes temporal transients and spatial resolution (the cone-dominated photopic state). Experimental evidence for pre- and postsynaptic mixing of rod and cone signals in the retina of the clawed frog, Xenopus, is shown together with the preeminent neuromodulatory role of both light and dopamine in controlling interactions between rod and cone signals. Dopamine is shown to be both necessary and sufficient to mediate light adaptation in the amphibian retina.
Considering the IS-business relationship: a measurement approach

To better understand the relationships between IS organizations and their associated client business (line) organizations, we build and test a theoretical model of the management of these relationships. This model originates in the political economy framework of organizational analysis, and couples two streams of theories: transaction cost analysis and resource dependency analysis. Additionally, elements of social contract theory are used to emphasize the long-term, relational aspect of the IS-line relationship. From these frameworks, two dimensions of the IS-business relationship are proposed: sustainability and influence. These constructs are conceptualized separately for each participant, emphasizing the disparate perspectives held by IS and the line. The model is validated with a field study of 121 IS-line relationships, in which the reliability and validity of the model is established in a confirmatory factor analytic approach.
Mapping cropping intensity of smallholder farms: A comparison of methods using multiple sensors

Abstract The food security of smallholder farmers is vulnerable to climate change and climate variability. Cropping intensity, the number of crops planted annually, can be used as a measure of food security for smallholder farmers given that it can greatly affect net production. Current techniques for quantifying cropping intensity may not accurately map smallholder farms where the size of one field is typically smaller than the spatial resolution of readily available satellite data. We evaluated four methods that use multi-scalar datasets and are commonly used in the literature to assess cropping intensity of smallholder farms: 1) the Landsat threshold method, which identifies if a Landsat pixel is cropped or uncropped during each growing season, 2) the MODIS peak method, which determines if there is a phenological peak in the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index time series during each growing season, 3) the MODIS temporal mixture analysis, which quantifies the sub-pixel heterogeneity of cropping intensity using phenological MODIS data, and 4) the MODIS hierarchical training method, which quantifies the sub-pixel heterogeneity of cropping intensity using hierarchical training techniques. Each method was assessed using four criteria: 1) data availability, 2) accuracy across different spatial scales (at aggregate scales 250 × 250 m, 1 × 1 km, 5 × 5 km, and 10 × 10 km), 3) ease of implementation, and 4) ability to use the method over large spatial and temporal scales. We applied our methods to two regions in India (Gujarat and southeastern Madhya Pradesh) that represented diversity in crop type, soils, climatology, irrigation access, cropping intensity, and field size. We found that the Landsat threshold method is the most accurate (R 2 ≥ 0.71 and RMSE ≤ 0.14), particularly at smaller scales of analysis. Yet given the limited availability of Landsat data, we find that the MODIS hierarchical training method meets multiple criteria for mapping cropping intensity over large spatial and temporal scales. Furthermore, the adjusted R 2 between predicted and validation data generally increased and the RMSE decreased with spatial aggregation ≥ 5 × 5 km (R 2 up to 0.97 and RMSE as low as 0.00). Our model accuracy varied based on the region and season of analysis and was lowest during the summer season in Gujarat when there was high sub-pixel heterogeneity due to sparsely cropped agricultural land-cover. While our results specifically apply to our study regions in India, they most likely also apply to smallholder agriculture in other locations across the globe where the same types of satellite data are readily available.