cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Legionella and Legionnaires' Disease: 25 Years of Investigation

There is still a low level of clinical awareness regarding Legionnaires' disease 25 years after it was first detected. The causative agents, legionellae, are freshwater bacteria with a fascinating ecology. These bacteria are intracellular pathogens of freshwater protozoa and utilize a similar mechanism to infect human phagocytic cells. There have been major advances in delineating the pathogenesis of legionellae through the identification of genes which allow the organism to bypass the endocytic pathways of both protozoan and human cells. Other bacteria that may share this novel infectious process are Coxiella burnetti and Brucella spp. More than 40 species and numerous serogroups of legionellae have been identified. Most diagnostic tests are directed at the species that causes most of the reported human cases of legionellosis, L. pneumophila serogroup 1. For this reason, information on the incidence of human respiratory disease attributable to other species and serogroups of legionellae is lacking. Improvements in diagnostic tests such as the urine antigen assay have inadvertently caused a decrease in the use of culture to detect infection, resulting in incomplete surveillance for legionellosis. Large, focal outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease continue to occur worldwide, and there is a critical need for surveillance for travel-related legionellosis in the United States. There is optimism that newly developed guidelines and water treatment practices can greatly reduce the incidence of this preventable illness.
Subjective memory in multiple sclerosis is associated with initial-trial learning performance.

Subjective reports of memory functioning are often included as part of neuropsychological evaluations. However, information from subjective measures often conflicts with formal testing results. The current study explored the relationships among self-reported memory functioning and objective learning and memory measures. Sixty-four multiple sclerosis (MS) patients completed a self-report memory questionnaire (Memory Functioning Questionnaire, MFQ) and objective measures of learning and memory (California Verbal Learning Test-II, CVLT-II; Open-Trial Selective Reminding Test, OT-SRT; and Prose Memory, PM). Significant positive correlations were found between self-reported memory functioning and recall following initial exposure to material: OT-SRT Trial 1 ( r = .42; p = .001); CVLT-II Trial 1 ( r = .39; p = .002): PM Immediate Recall ( r = .28; p = .028). Subjective memory was unrelated to recall performance on subsequent learning trials, aggregate learning scores, or delayed free recall. Results suggest that self-reported memory functioning in MS patients may be specifically related to single-trial learning. ( JINS , 2011, 17 , 557–561)
Transepithelial Migration of Toxoplasma gondii Is Linked to Parasite Motility and Virulence

After oral ingestion, Toxoplasma gondii crosses the intestinal epithelium, disseminates into the deep tissues, and traverses biological barriers such as the placenta and the blood-brain barrier to reach sites where it causes severe pathology. To examine the cellular basis of these processes, migration of T. gondii was studied in vitro using polarized host cell monolayers and extracellular matrix. Transmigration required active parasite motility and the highly virulent type I strains consistently exhibited a superior migratory capacity than the nonvirulent type II and type III strains. Type I strain parasites also demonstrated a greater capacity for transmigration across mouse intestine ex vivo, and directly penetrated into the lamina propria and vascular endothelium. A subpopulation of virulent type I parasites exhibited a long distance migration (LDM) phenotype in vitro, that was not expressed by nonvirulent type II and type III strains. Cloning of parasites expressing the LDM phenotype resulted in substantial increase of migratory capacity in vitro and in vivo . The potential to up-regulate migratory capacity in T. gondii likely plays an important role in establishing new infections and in dissemination upon reactivation of chronic infections.
Ultra-low latency optical packet switching node

A photonic packet switching node is introduced, and its routing latency is shown to be 15.3 ns. The power penalty of the node at a bit-error rate (BER) of 10/sup -9/ is confirmed to be approximately 0.2 dB across 33 nm of the C-band for 10-Gb/s payload wavelengths. Moreover, multiple-wavelength packets containing 16 payload wavelengths can be switched while maintaining BERs of 10/sup -12/ or better.
Structural composites with integrated electromagnetic functionality

We are studying the incorporation of electromagnetic effective media in the form of arrays of metal scattering elements, such as wires, into polymer-based or ceramic-based composites. In addition to desired structural properties, these electromagnetic effective media can provide controlled response to electromagnetic radiation such as RF communication signals, radar, and/or infrared radiation. With the addition of dynamic components, these materials may be leveraged for active tasks such as filtering. The advantages of such hybrid composites include simplicity and weight savings by the combination of electromagnetic functionality with necessary structural functionality. This integration of both electromagnetic and structural functionality throughout the volume of the composite is the distinguishing feature of our approach. As an example, we present a class of composites based on the integration of artificial plasmon media into polymer matrixes. Such composites can exhibit a broadband index of refraction substantially equal to unity at microwave frequencies and below.
Screening for Speech and Language Delay and Disorders in Children Five Years and Younger.

A two-year-old girl presents to your office for a routine well-child visit. She has had one ear infection in the past year but is otherwise healthy. Her mother has no specific concerns about her speech and language development. There is no family history of congenital disorders or developmental delay. Her mother says that a neighbor's child was referred for early speech therapy.
The Relationship Between Symptoms and Abnormal Magnetic Resonance Images of Lumbar Intervertebral Disks

Although numerous tissues may be involved, injury to the lumbar intervertebral disk (IVD) remains as a prominent source of low back pain (LBP) and lower-extremity radiculopathy.1–5 For the past 60 years, following the influential article by Mixter and Barr,6 an extraordinary amount of research has been published regarding the relationship of lumbar disk degeneration to mechanical abnormalities and pain syndromes involving the low back. New data regarding histochemical properties, mechanical behavior, and factors that predispose the IVD to dysfunction are appearing frequently and have led to much debate about the actual role of the IVD in symptom production. One of the most important advances relating to the evaluation of the IVD comes from the high-resolution in vivo images of the lumbar spine obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).7…
Generating mosaics for lineage analysis in flies

By generating and studying mosaic organisms, we are learning how intricate tissues form as cells proliferate and diversify through organism development. FLP/FRT-mediated site-specific mitotic recombination permits the generation of mosaic flies with efficiency and control. With heat-inducible or tissue-specific FLP transgenes at our disposal, we can engineer mosaics carrying clones of homozygous cells that come from specific pools of heterozygous precursors. This permits detailed cell lineage analysis followed by mosaic analysis of gene functions in the underlying developmental processes. Expression of transgenes (e.g., reporters) only in the homozygous cells enables mosaic analysis in the complex nervous system. Tracing neuronal lineages by using mosaics revolutionized mechanistic studies of neuronal diversification and differentiation, exemplifying the power of genetic mosaics in developmental biology.
Evaluating Diversity Metrics: A Critique of the Equity Index Method.

Background: Evaluating diversity, inclusivity, and equity remains both a prevalent topic in education and a difficult challenge for most evaluators. Traditional metrics used to evaluate these constructs include questionnaires, focus groups, and anonymous comment solicitations. While each of these approaches offer value, they also possess a number of limitations (e.g., self-reported nature, holistic perspective, social desirability bias, varying degrees of respondent sensitivity, representative responses, etc.). Researchers at the University of Southern California have successfully utilized the Equity Index Method (EIM) as a potential approach for measuring diversity and reporting diversity-related outcomes. Purpose: Provide a critique of the EIM and discusses how the EIM could be improved and extended to other evaluation contexts and settings. Setting: Not Applicable. Intervention: Not Applicable. Research Design: Not Applicable. Data Collection and Analysis: Not Applicable. Findings: Despite the potential for problems with interpretations based on small samples and subgroups and some concerns about semantics involving the term “equity”, we believe the EIM possesses a number of strengths that many evaluators will find useful. We encourage other evaluators to consider this method and explore its utility in a variety of contexts. Keywords: equity; equity index method; applications.
Qualitative methodology in simulation model engineering

Qualitative methodology in simulation requires high level model ing constructs such as causal graphs, bond graphs, or natural language. Even though there exists a virtual continuum between qualitat...
Pairwise Statistical Significance of Local Sequence Alignment Using Sequence-Specific and Position-Specific Substitution Matrices

Pairwise sequence alignment is a central problem in bioinformatics, which forms the basis of various other applications. Two related sequences are expected to have a high alignment score, but relatedness is usually judged by statistical significance rather than by alignment score. Recently, it was shown that pairwise statistical significance gives promising results as an alternative to database statistical significance for getting individual significance estimates of pairwise alignment scores. The improvement was mainly attributed to making the statistical significance estimation process more sequence-specific and database-independent. In this paper, we use sequence-specific and position-specific substitution matrices to derive the estimates of pairwise statistical significance, which is expected to use more sequence-specific information in estimating pairwise statistical significance. Experiments on a benchmark database with sequence-specific substitution matrices at different levels of sequence-specific contribution were conducted, and results confirm that using sequence-specific substitution matrices for estimating pairwise statistical significance is significantly better than using a standard matrix like BLOSUM62, and than database statistical significance estimates reported by popular database search programs like BLAST, PSI-BLAST (without pretrained PSSMs), and SSEARCH on a benchmark database, but with pretrained PSSMs, PSI-BLAST results are significantly better. Further, using position-specific substitution matrices for estimating pairwise statistical significance gives significantly better results even than PSI-BLAST using pretrained PSSMs.
Gaining comparative advantage in supply chain relationships: the mediating role of market-oriented IT competence

Trading partners continue to make significant investments in information technology (IT) infrastructure to facilitate the flow of market information across supply chains, yet the underlying mechanisms linking IT implementation to firm performance have not been clearly specified. Drawing on the resource-advantage theory of competition, we develop and test a model that proposes market-oriented IT competence as a mediator of the effects of a firm’s IT infrastructure on market information flow which, in turn, yields comparative advantages in supply chain relationships. Market-oriented IT competence is conceptualized as a firm’s ability to deploy an IT infrastructure in support of the organization-wide collection, dissemination and use of market information to respond to market needs. We test the effects of market-oriented IT competence using data collected from managers in the logistics services industry. Findings show that market-oriented IT competence is a critical link between IT infrastructure and comparative advantage in supply chain relationships.
Cascaded Kalman Filters for Accurate Estimation of Multiple Biases, Dead-Reckoning Navigation, and Full State Feedback Control of Ground Vehicles

This paper develops a cascaded estimation algorithm for estimating all of the biases and states for full state feedback and dead reckoning of a farm tractor through short global positioning system (GPS) outages. First, a conventional (one stage) estimation scheme is presented. The single state estimation scheme is shown to have degraded performance in bias state estimation and dead-reckoning due to vehicle model errors. However, the states for position and velocity are not highly coupled to the tractor dynamic states, allowing for separation of the estimators. Therefore, the state estimation algorithms are divided into two cascaded estimators in order to prevent the errors in the vehicle model from corrupting the navigation states. A dead reckoning (or navigation) estimator estimates all of the inertial sensor biases while GPS is available. When GPS is not available, the dead reckoning estimator integrates rate measurements to provide position and heading estimates in order to maintain continuous control of the vehicle through these GPS outages. A second estimator is then used to estimate the additional states needed for full state feedback control algorithms. Bias estimates from the dead reckoning estimator are used to correct the sensor measurement used in the second estimator. An extended kalman filter (EKF) is utilized for each of the estimators. Results are given, showing that the cascaded estimation technique provides better estimation of the vehicle states over a conventional estimation scheme, especially during a GPS outage. Results are also given which verify the ability of the estimation algorithm to estimate all of the system biases and provide continuous control of the tractor through a short GPS outage
Manufacturing improvement team programs in the semiconductor industry

Increasing numbers of semiconductor manufacturers are implementing improvement programs at their manufacturing sites (fabs). Yet despite their rising popularity, little attention has focused on the impact of a program's design on its overall effectiveness. This research examines the improvement programs established at ten fabs. A categorization scheme classifies programs according to their use of one of three types of teams: continuous improvement teams (CITs), quality circles (QCs), and self-directed work teams (SDWTs). Results from 188 operator surveys and over 150 interviews with fab employees (including managers, engineers, technicians, supervisors, operators, and representatives from human resources and quality departments) indicate that a number of programs suffer from weak implementation and disorganized management. The failure to carefully design and implement a program is reflected in employee perceptions of the program's effectiveness. Perceptions of CIT programs are found to be significantly lower than those of QC or SDWT programs, both of which feature higher degrees of autonomy and training. Results also highlight a nearly universal failure to integrate production team programs with engineering and maintenance functions. To help improve future programs, design implications and aspects of effective team programs are noted. Special attention is paid to program selection, goal design, organizational support, engineering integration, information systems, and empowerment semantics.
Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation due to endothelial cell exposure to fluid shear stress

A sharp increase in shear stress followed by steady laminar shear stress (step flow) imposed on the surface of macrovascular endothelial cells (ECs) causes changes to the metabolism, gene expression, protein synthesis, as well as to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In this study, we monitored the shear-induced cytosolic ROS production in human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) and in human dermal microvascular ECs (HMVECs) using the oxidant-sensitive fluorescent probe 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA). HMVECs increased their ROS levels in response to shear stress in a time- and dose-dependent manner, when the shear stress was in the range of those encountered in postcapillary venules (2 or 4 dynes/cm/sup 2/). whereas HUVECs responded only to a higher shear stress tested (10 dynes/cm/sup 2/). It is known that many oxidants induce DCF-DA oxidation (hydra peroxides, ONOO/sup -/, NO/sub 2/ radical). In agreement to that, either an ecNOS inhibitor or a ONOO scavenger/SOD mimetic inhibited the shear-induced DCF signal. We are currently establishing a method to monitor lipid peroxidation (formation of lipid hydroperoxides) in the membranes of sheared ECs. Our plan is to investigate the contribution of cytosolic ROS to membranous lipid peroxidation and to intracellular shear-induced signaling.
Atomistic Insights into Regulatory Mechanisms of the HER2 Tyrosine Kinase Domain: A Molecular Dynamics Study

HER2 (ErbB2/Neu) is a receptor tyrosine kinase belonging to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/ErbB family and is overexpressed in 20-30% of human breast cancers. Although several crystal structures of ErbB kinases have been solved, the precise mechanism of HER2 activation remains unknown, and it has been suggested that HER2 is unique in its requirement for phosphorylation of Y877, a key tyrosine residue located in the activation loop. To elucidate mechanistic details of kinase domain regulation, we performed molecular dynamics simulations of a homology-modeled HER2 kinase structure in active and inactive conformations. Principal component analysis of the atomistic fluctuations reveals a tight coupling between the activation loop and catalytic loop that may contribute to alignment of residues required for catalysis in the active kinase. The free energy perturbation method is also employed to predict a role for phosphorylated Y877 in stabilizing the kinase conformations. Finally, simulation results are presented for a HER2/EGFR heterodimer and reveal that the dimeric interface induces a rearrangement of the alphaC helix toward the active conformation. Elucidation of the molecular regulatory mechanisms in HER2 will help establish structure-function relationships in the wild-type kinase, as well as predict mutations with a propensity for constitutive activation in HER2-mediated cancers.
The Endophenotype Concept in Psychiatry: Etymology and Strategic Intentions

Endophenotypes, measurable components unseen by the unaided eye along the pathway between disease and distal genotype, have emerged as an important concept in the study of complex neuropsychiatric diseases. An endophenotype may be neurophysiological, biochemical, endocrinological, neuroanatomical, cognitive, or neuropsychological (including configured self-report data) in nature. Endophenotypes represent simpler clues to genetic underpinnings than the disease syndrome itself, promoting the view that psychiatric diagnoses can be decomposed or deconstructed, which can result in more straightforward-and successful-genetic analysis. However, to be most useful, endophenotypes for psychiatric disorders must meet certain criteria, including association with a candidate gene or gene region, heritability that is inferred from relative risk for the disorder in relatives, and disease association parameters. In addition to furthering genetic analysis, endophenotypes can clarify classification and diagnosis and foster the development of animal models. The authors discuss the etymology and strategy behind the use of endophenotypes in neuropsychiatric research and, more generally, in research on other diseases with complex genetics.
Increasing Precision in Development-Based Postmortem Interval Estimates: What's Sex Got to Do with it?

ABSTRACT Forensic entomologists typically use either succession models for postmortem interval (PMI) estimates or development-based models for minimum PMI (PMIMIN) estimates. Development-based age estimates are calculated with durations of immature stadia and can also include morphological data such as larval size. For developmental data, the first and second instar stages are typically brief with little variation in larval length. The third instar, a much longer stage by comparison, is prone to considerable variation. This variation is, in part, because of the nonlinear growth during the third instar. There is evidence that genetic and environmental factors influence growth curve divergence during this stage. We chose to investigate one genetic factor, sex, as numerous insect species exhibit sex-specific immature growth patterns. The development rate of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) males and females is considered here. We previously determined the genome sizes of L. sericata and fou...
Sirtuin-1 targeting promotes Foxp3+ T-regulatory cell function and prolongs allograft survival.

Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), a class III histone/protein deacetylase, is central to cellular metabolism, stress responses, and aging, but its contributions to various host immune functions have been little investigated. To study the role of Sirt1 in T cell functions, we undertook targeted deletions by mating mice with a floxed Sirt1 gene to mice expressing CD4-cre or Foxp3-cre recombinase, respectively. We found that Sirt1 deletion left conventional T-effector cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine production largely unaltered. However, Sirt1 targeting promoted the expression of Foxp3, a key transcription factor in T-regulatory (Treg) cells, and increased Treg suppressive functions in vitro and in vivo. Consistent with these data, mice with targeted deletions of Sirt1 in either CD4 T cells or Foxp3 Treg cells exhibited prolonged survival of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched cardiac allografts. Allografts in Sirt1-targeted recipients showed long-term preservation of myocardial histology and infiltration by Foxp3 Treg cells. Comparable results were seen in wild-type allograft recipients treated with Sirt1 inhibitors, such as EX-527 and splitomicin. Hence, Sirt1 may inhibit Treg functions, and its targeting may have therapeutic value in autoimmunity and transplantation.
2008 Homer W. Smith Award: Insights into the Pathogenesis of Polycystic Kidney Disease from Gene Discovery

Polycystic kidney diseases (PKD) are a group of inherited disorders characterized by morbidity-associated development of renal cysts. Three forms of PKD are described here: The common, late onset, autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD); the mainly infantile, autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD); and the lethal, syndromic, Meckel syndrome that also includes central nervous system and digital defects. Positional cloning approaches based on genetic linkage have identified the disease genes in these disorders. Completion of the Human Genome Project, cases with atypical mutation, and animal models have greatly aided gene identification, and characterization of the disease genes has allowed establishment of molecular diagnostics. Genetic and allelic heterogeneity, plus genetic modification, underlie the significant phenotypic variability in each disorder. Positional cloning identified novel disease-associated protein families: The polycystins (ADPKD); fibrocystins (ARPKD); and meckelin. A common feature of pathogenesis in each disorder seems to be the primary cilia, implicating detection of fluid flow and the developmental process of planar cell polarity. Identifying the primary defect has contributed to our understanding of defective cellular processes and highlights potential therapeutic targets. A number of agents are now in Phase 3 trials, and many others show promise preclinically, providing hope of effective treatments for ADPKD in the foreseeable future.
Suicide by Cop: Clinical Risks and Subtypes

This study examines whether clinical classification schemes from general suicide research are applicable for cases of suicide by cop (SbC) and whether there are indicators as to why the police might be engaged in the suicide. Using archival law enforcement data, 13 clinical risks were examined among 68 cases of SbC using exploratory factor analysis and k-means cluster analysis. Three subtypes of SbC cases emerged: Mental Illness, Criminality, and Not Otherwise Specified. The subtypes varied significantly on their levels of mental illness, substance use, and criminal activity. Findings suggest that reducing fragmentation between law enforcement and mental health service providers might be a crucial goal for suicide intervention and prevention, at least among cases of SbC.
Rapid denaturation improves chromosome morphology and permits multiple hybridizations during fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Denaturation of chromosomal DNA for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is an essential step in a procedure associated with a number of variables. In our experience, shorter denaturation time in 70% formamide/2 × SSC at 72 C provides sufficient denaturation, where the hydrogen bonds are broken between the purines and pyrimidines of the double helix. This shortened exposure improves retention of morphology of human chromosomes from lymphocytes, aminocytes, fibroblasts and bone marrow, and allows the same metaphases to be denatured repeatedly and rehybridized with different probes. This approach is useful in investigations where sample volume is limited.
Asymmetric virtualisation for real-time systems

The steady increase in performance of the processors commonly adopted for real-time systems leads to the opportunity of hosting diverse classes of tasks on the same hardware, for example real-time control tasks and a man-machine interface, each one under the control of its own operating system. This paper describes how an asymmetric virtualisation layer has been realised on top of the ARM TrustZone security extension, in order to support the concurrent execution of both a real-time and a general purpose operating system on the same processor. The resulting implementation has a small execution time overhead and does not require any modification to the general purpose operating system.
Transparent Boundary Condition for the Parabolic Equation Modeled by the 4RW

Transparent boundary condition in a 2D-space is presented for the four-state random walk (4RW) model that is used in treating the standard parabolic equation by stochastic methods. The boundary condition is exact for the discrete 4RW model, is of explicit type, and relates the field in the spectral domain at the boundary point in terms of the field at a previous interior point via a spectral transfer function. In the spatial domain, the domain of influence for the boundary condition is directly proportional to the time elapsed. By performing various approximations to the transfer function, several approximate absorbing boundary conditions can be derived that have much more limited domain of influence.
Involvement of the Cra Global Regulatory Protein in the Expression of the iscRSUA Operon, Revealed during Studies of Tricarballylate Catabolism in Salmonella enterica

In Salmonella enterica, tricarballylate (Tcb) catabolism requires function of TcuB, a membrane-bound protein that contains [4Fe-4S] clusters and heme. TcuB transfers electrons from reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide in the Tcb dehydrogenase (TcuA) to electron acceptors in the membrane. We recently showed that functions needed to assemble [Fe-S] clusters (i.e., the iscRSUA-hscBA-fdx operon) compensate for the lack of ApbC during growth of an apbC strain on Tcb. ApbC had been linked to [Fe-S] cluster metabolism, and we showed that an apbC strain had decreased TcuB activity. Here we report findings that expand our understanding of the regulation of expression of the iscRSUA genes in Salmonella enterica. We investigated why low levels of glucose or other saccharides restored growth of an apbC strain on Tcb. Here we report the following findings. (i) A ≤1 mM concentration of glucose, fructose, ribose, or glycerol restores growth of an apbC strain on Tcb. (ii) The saccharide effect results in increased levels of TcuB activity. (iii) The saccharide effect depends on the global regulatory protein Cra. (iv) Putative Cra binding sites are present in the regulatory region of the iscRSUA operon. (v) Cra protein binds to all three sites in the iscRSUA promoter region in a concentration-dependent fashion. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the involvement of Cra in [Fe-S] cluster assembly.
Jean Elshtain: Why Augustine and Arendt?

Jean Elshtain appeared in my life at a fortuitous moment in the early 1980s as I ventured into unexplored academic terrain—the vexed question of what Hannah Arendt intended by engaging with Christian political thought, particularly the work of the fifth-century bishop and theologian Aurelius Augustine. She was already a notoriously maverick Jewish writer on the Holocaust. What could be made of Arendt's regard for her “old friend” Augustine? A previous discovery—the fact that she had written her dissertation on the theme of love ( caritas ) as the binding agent in civil society—had led me to the Library of Congress in 1983 where the original 1929 German manuscript is housed, together with the English translation Arendt had begun in New York in 1958. Neither had been published. I proposed a paper on the subject for the APSA meeting in Washington in 1984, fully expecting a negative response, given the deviation from the norm of Arendt scholarship it entailed. Instead I was contacted directly by Elshtain who let me know that she found this new aspect of Arendt's writing very significant and wanted to hear more about it on the Arendt-themed panel that she was organizing and chairing. I knew her work but had never met or corresponded with her. I was, needless to say, surprised and grateful.
Contested Sites: Pacific Resistance in Guam to U.S. Empire

Like their indigenous counterparts throughout the world, the Chamorros of Guam endured a legacy of colonization through successive waves of conquest (at the hands of Spaniards, Japanese, and "Americans"). Moreover, Chamorros possess the distinction of being the first among Pacific Island societies to be colonized who have yet to exercise their inalienable right of self-determination. As part of the spoils of the Spanish-American War, Guam remains under U.S. control. This essay highlights the historical and contemporary manifestations of Chamorro resistance within the context of an emergent Pacific culture of contestation. I offer an interpretation of the evolution of Chamorro political resistance in light of sovereignty struggles globally.
Government and Trade Union Responses to the Economic Crisis in the Financial Sector

This working paper provides an overview of government and trade union responses to the economic crisis in the financial sector. It provides a comparative presentation of trade union and government responses to the crisis with particular emphasis on the country-specific conditions and practices of collective bargaining and social dialogue. It is based on a survey carried out among financial sector unions affiliated to Uni-Europa.
Creative Thinking in a First Year Mechanical Engineering Design Course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: A Community of Practice Model

This paper investigates student acquisition of creative thinking skills in Solving Real Problems, a first year engineering design course in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This class was developed around a service-learning model where teams of two to six students worked with community-based partners to design products for use in their communities. Each team also had at least one faculty member and one teaching assistant working alongside the students as additional team members. Teaching techniques used in the class included multiple in-class idea generation exercises, individual and group assignments, concept, visualization, and fabrication instruction. There were thirteen students total enrolled in the class, two of whom were upperclassmen, one of whom was cross-registered from another university. The participants of this study are the ten first-year MIT students that took Solving Real Problems (2.00B) in spring semester 2007, consisting of five females and five males. At the end of the semester, eleven students total, including each of these ten first-year MIT students, participated in focus groups and responded affirmatively to the question “Thinking about Solving Real Problems in particular, do you think that the class improved your ability to be creative?” Thirty minute follow-up interviews with each student explored this improvement in creativity and make up the core data analyzed in this paper. Common themes discussed by students in relation to creativity include the interactive lecture and lab environment, the involvement of the professors and confidence and hands-on practice, suggesting a community of practice model of learning creativity in the classroom.© 2008 ASME
Thermoelectric Power Studies on La2-xSrxNiO4-δ

Thermoelectric power (S) has been measured on La2-xSrxNiO4-δ. Both nonmetallic (0.5 ≤ × ≤ 1.0) and metallic materials (1.1 ≤ × ≤ 1.5) have been investigated between 80 and 310 K. The sign of S changes from negative to positive between 150 and 220 K for both metallic and nonmetallic samples. The position at which the curve crosses from negative to positive depends upon the composition (x). For example, when × = 1.15 (metallic conductivity) S changes from negative to positive at about 220 K. However, if this sample is heated to 1000° C under argon, the material becomes nonmetallic and the sign of S remains positive between 80 and 310 K. These results may indicate that more than one type of carrier is involved. The absolute magnitude of S at 300 K decreases with × for 0.5 ≤ × ≤ 1.15 and then increases with × for 1.15 ≤ × ≤ 1.5. In the heavily doped material where S becomes more negative with increasing doping, the thermoelectric power strongly indicates that electrons and not holes are the majority carriers.
INCIDENCE OF TEMPORARY TRANSVENOUS PACEMAKER PLACEMENT WITH CORONARY ORBITAL ATHERECTOMY COMPARED TO ROTATIONAL ATHERECTOMY

Transvenous temporary pacing (TVP) is often used during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients undergoing rotational atherectomy (RA) and is recommended for prophylactic use in all cases involving the RCA. The placement of transvenous pacing has cost implications, but more importantly
Microbiology: Interpreting the Sputum Gram Stain Report

A retrospective review of patient records was performed to determine the statistical relationship between sputum Gram stain and culture results in adult men at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Midwest. Gram stain results from 1996 were statistically compared with culture results for 2,105 sputum specimens. Positive predictive values for common Gram stain morphotypes and their corresponding organisms varied from 7.1% to 90.6%. In some instances, the absence of a particular Gram stain morphotype (eg, gram-negative diplococci) was more predictive of the absence of an organism in culture (eg, Moraxella catarrhalisj than its presence. Also, Gram stain reports noting the presence of gram-negative bacilli were not predictive of cultures with gram-negative bacilli potential respiratory pathogens (positive predictive values 32.4%-54.9%). In conclusion, Gram stain results often were not accurate predictors of sputum culture results. One way to improve agreement between Gram stain and culture results is to develop Gram stain interpretation guidelines based on statistical relationships between stain and cultu
Analysis of high order aberrations in myopic eyes after dark adaptation

Objective To explore the distribution of the high order aberrations in the myopic eyes after dark adaptation and identify the effects of pupillary diameter(PD),refractive power,age and sex on it.Methods In a dark room,using the Wavescan system (Visx,Inc.),189 patients (338 eyes) with myopia were examined across the PD of 5.0 mm,5.5 mm and 6.0mm before LASIK.The root mean square (RMS) values and Zernike coefficients of different orders were analyzed.The patients were divided into different groups based on PD,refractive power,age and sex.Results After dark adaptation,RMS were (0.234±0.093) μm,ranging from 0.05～0.63 μm,and were decreased from third to sixth order aberrations.Among all the aberrations,the most significant ones were coma,trefoil and spherical aberration.High order aberrations were increased with increasing PD and refractive power.The Multiple regression equation between RMSh and PD,SE(spherical equivalent)was RMSh=-0.250+0.098PD+0.007SE.Conclusion After dark adaptation,high order aberrations vary widely among the subjects.The RMS values are decreased from third to sixth order.Among the aberrations,the most significant ones are coma,trefoil,and spherical aberration.High order aberrations are increased with increasing PD and refractive power,especially with the former.The coma and trefoil is increased with increasing age.
An Analysis of the Environmental Impact of a PFBC-CC (Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustion Combined Cycle) System by Using an Exergy Method

By using an exergy method a model for the thermal analysis of system emissions and waste heat was set up. Starting from the concept of exergy the environmental impact of emissions is analyzed in general. Furthermore, the impact on environment of a PFBC-CC (pressurized fluidized bed combustion combined cycle) power generation system has also been analyzed. The results of the analysis indicate that the environmental impact of CO 2 emissions and waste heat of the system should not be ignored. The transfer of element S from SO 2 into CaSO 4 can drastically reduce the environmental impact of the system. To achieve a more comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact with the help of the exergy method, it is necessary to conduct a more thoroughgoing research on a reference environment model.
Infectious and Non-infectious Etiologies of Cardiovascular Disease in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Background: Increasing rates of HIV have been observed in women, African Americans, and Hispanics, particularly those residing in rural areas of the United States. Although cardiovascular (CV) complications in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have significantly decreased following the introduction of antiretroviral therapy on a global scale, in many rural areas, residents face geographic, social, and cultural barriers that result in decreased access to care. Despite the advancements to combat the disease, many patients in these medically underserved areas are not linked to care, and fewer than half achieve viral suppression. Methods: Databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed publications reporting infectious and non-infectious etiologies of cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected patients. Relevant articles cited in the retrieved publications were also reviewed for inclusion. Results: A variety of outcomes studies and literature reviews were included in the analysis. Relevant literature discussed the manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of infectious and non-infectious etiologies of cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected patients. Conclusion: In these medically underserved areas, it is vital that clinicians are knowledgeable in the manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of CV complications in patients with untreated HIV. This review summarizes the epidemiology and causes of CV complications associated with untreated HIV and provide recommendations for management of these complications.
Aortic valve replacement combined with myocardial revascularization: Late results and determinants of risk for 471 in-hospital survivors

Among 500 patients consecutively undergoing primary aortic valve replacement combined with coronary bypass grafting from 1967 to 1981, there were 29 (5.8%) perioperative deaths. Follow-up of the late survivors ranged from 43 to 181 months (mean 85 months); actuarial survival rates were 88%, 77%, and 52% and event-free survival rates were 80%, 65%, and 32% at 2, 5, and 10 postoperative years. Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to identify determinants of late risk. Patient-related variables associated with decreased late survival rates included advanced age, cardiothoracic ratio 50% or greater, and preoperative New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms. Moderate or severe impairment of left ventricular function as determined by angiography and advanced age were variables that decreased late event-free survival rates. Patients with bioprostheses had better survival rates (p
Effect of Mutation and Substrate Binding on the Stability of Cytochrome P450BM3 Variants

Cytochrome P450BM3 is a heme-containing enzyme from Bacillus megaterium that exhibits high monooxygenase activity and has a self-sufficient electron transfer system in the full-length enzyme. Its potential synthetic applications drive protein engineering efforts to produce variants capable of oxidizing nonnative substrates such as pharmaceuticals and aromatic pollutants. However, promiscuous P450BM3 mutants often exhibit lower stability, thereby hindering their industrial application. This study demonstrated that the heme domain R47L/F87V/L188Q/E267V/F81I pentuple mutant (PM) is destabilized because of the disruption of hydrophobic contacts and salt bridge interactions. This was directly observed from crystal structures of PM in the presence and absence of ligands (palmitic acid and metyrapone). The instability of the tertiary structure and heme environment of substrate-free PM was confirmed by pulse proteolysis and circular dichroism, respectively. Binding of the inhibitor, metyrapone, significantly stab...
Validierung in der Automobilindustrie

Das Prozessmodell zur virtuellen Absicherung wurde im Rahmen mehrerer Projekte der Auto-mobilindustrie angewandt und zu dem Status weiterentwickelt, der in Kapitel 4 beschrieben ist. In diesem Abschnitt sind die daraus resultierenden Anpassungen und Neuerungen aufgefuhrt und bewertet (vgl. Zielstellung 4, Abschnitt 1.2). Anschliesend wird ein Ausblick auf mogliche Weiterentwicklungspotenziale und Forschungsmoglichkeiten gegeben.
Multispectral Fusion for Indoor and Outdoor Face Authentication

Face analysis via multispectral imaging is a relatively unexplored territory in face recognition research. The multispectral, multimodal and multi-illuminant IRIS-M3 database was acquired, indoors and outdoors, to promote research in this direction. In the database, each data record has images spanning all bands in the visible spectrum and one thermal image, acquired under different illumination conditions. The spectral power distributions of the lighting sources and daylight conditions are also encoded in the database. Multispectral fused images show improved face recognition performance compared to the visible monochromatic images. Galleries and probes were selected from the indoor and outdoor sections of the database to study the effects of data and decision fusion in the presence of lighting changes. Our experiments were validated by comparing cumulative match characteristics of monochromatic probes against multispectral probes obtained via multispectral fusion by averaging, principal component analysis, wavelet analysis, illumination adjustment and decision level fusion. In this effort, we demonstrate that spectral bands, either individually or fused by different techniques, provide better face recognition results with up to 78% improvement on conventional visible images.
Colonic stenting: When and how

Abstract Since the first report in 1990 by Dohomoto et al., endoluminal stenting of the colorectum has become a viable alternative to surgery. For patients with unresectable disease, stent implantation can be considered, avoiding the need for colostomy and has been associated with a better quality of life. The long-term outcomes of palliative stenting has shown favorable results. Emergency surgery in patients with colonic obstruction is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Stenting as bridge to surgery is now an alternative to emergency surgery despite the uncertainity of its long-term oncologic safety. Colonic stenting has been used in benign colonic obstructions but the data on long-term outcomes remains limited. The appropriate decision for stent or surgery in the setting of acute colonic obstruction requires a structured approach.
Multiport Sleeve Valve Development and Application

The history of the development and use of multiport sleeve valves is reviewed. The concept of using the multiport sleeve valve as an energy dissipator as well as a control valve for water pipelines is explored. It is expected that high-pressure head flows (150 to 300 m) can be controlled with the use of the multiport sleeve valve. Head loss coefficients for two sleeve valve designs are presented based on laboratory tests of 200-mm valve. Physical and mathematical models are described which were used to develop a horizontal multiport sleeve valve for long pipelines. The multiport sleeve valve is quite versatile with respect to hydraulic and mechanical design.
87%-Efficient 330-mW 0.6- μ m Single-Inductor Triple-Output Buck–Boost Power Supply

Microsystems that sense, process, and communicate data can save money, energy, and lives. Such varied functionality, however, demands power that can easily deplete a small battery. Integrating so many analog and digital functions can also imperil performance with noise and distortion. To survive all this with an exhaustible battery, blocks require several efficient power supplies that both buck and boost the battery voltage. Luckily, switched inductors are flexible and efficient, but also bulky. So what these microsensors need are single-inductor multiple-output supplies that buck and boost. But to reconfigure the inductor for such diverse operation requires many power-consuming switches. Plus, cycling between outputs requires time and delays response time. The single-inductor supply proposed bucks and boosts and cycles between outputs frequently with two input switches, one inductor, and one switch and one capacitor per output. Other buck–boost supplies either bypass the inductor or require one to two more switches and up to one more inductor and one more capacitor. The prototype presented here bucks two outputs and boosts one output with five switches by energizing the inductor to buck outputs first. By collecting sufficient energy this way, the inductor can feed boost outputs directly. A sixth switch engages only when boost power is greater than a threshold that the input voltage and buck power levels establish. This way, the 0.6- μ m complementary metal oxide semiconductor system bucks and boosts 2.7–4.0 V to 1.2, 1.8, and 4.0 V to deliver 80%−87% of the 379–412 mW drawn. The system cycles every 1–3 μ s and responds within 5–10 μ s.
Game-Playing Programs

Computer programs which are capable of playing chess and other games at a high level of skill have become familiar to most of us in recent years. In fact, there are chess-playing programs which can beat all but the best human players, and many experts think that the world champion will be a program within the next few years (see [Lev84]). Our aim in this chapter is to discuss the mathematical background involved in these programs.