cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Yield Behavior of Moderately Filled Epoxy/Ni Suspensions

Epoxy/nickel (Ni) adhesives can be used as integrated circuit (IC) packaging materials due to their lower cost than epoxy/silver (Ag) adhesives with acceptable electrical conductivity. In this work, yield behavior was studied for moderately filled bisphenol-A based epoxy/Ni suspensions (10–60 wt% of Ni). Effects of the preshear history, resin viscosity, temperature, particle size, solid loading, as well as different yield stress determination methods were investigated. The preshear effect manifests itself in successive shear rate sweeps with the same sample. Consequently, an initial shear rate sweep was employed to serve as preshear conditioning and obtain reproducible results on all samples. Shear thinning generally occurs for epoxy/Ni suspensions. The fractal dimension (D f) may be employed to describe these flocculated structures, and a higher D f value was observed for Epon815C/Ni system as compared to Epon830/Ni system. The Arrhenius equation describes the temperature dependence of suspension viscosi...
Challenges of and strategies for changing prescribing practices of health care providers.

Problems related to inappropriate prescribing practices ofphysicians in general are well recognized. Dietary fluoride supplements have been implicated as one of the contributing factors in an increase in dental fluorosis. Inappropriate pre- scribing practices ofproviders have been cited as a major factor in this implication. Numerous studies of physicians and dentists have documented a lack of knowl- edge and inappropriate prescribing practices regarding fluoride supplements. The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers to changing fluoride-prescribing practices of health care providers and to suggest strategies for implementing change. To increase optimal and appropriate use of fluoride supplements, edu- cational interventions are necessary for all user groups-detail men and women, physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, dental hygienists, and the public. In addition, environmental supports for the educational activities in the form of policy, regulation, standards of care, and guidelines are recommended for consideration. (J Public Health Dent 1999;59(4):2?5-8 11.
Campaign Resource Allocations Under the Electoral College

This essay addresses the question: Why does the Electoral College bias campaign resource allocations in favor of large states? Using data on candidate trips as well as estimates of the time candidates spend in states, we conclude, first, that much of the apparent empirical support for Brams and Davis's 3/2's hypothesis is an artifact of the candidates' consideration of each state's relative competitiveness and the statistical relationship between size and competitiveness. There is some evidence, however, for a residual bias. That is, after controlling for each state's competitiveness, campaign allocations still appear to favor larger states—at least for the two competitive elections of 1960 and 1968. We attribute that bias to corner solutions to the candidate's maximization problem and to the effects of sequential campaign planning. Thus, while we do not dispute the existence of bias over the course of the entire campaign, the data are consistent with a modified (albeit complex) proportional rule that each candidate applies sequentially during the campaign. Our conclusion is that the unit rule feature of the Electoral College, rather than weighted voting, is the predominant cause of bias.
Two Patterns of Transcendence

This article sets forth two historically important ways in which the transcendence of the ego has been conceived. These two conceptions are called the "ladder to oneness" and the "spiral to integration." These conceptions are set forth by contrasting them on five critical issues: (1) whether transcendence is a developmental transition that moves straight to higher, transegoic levels or a transition that follows a spiral course that bends back upon itself, (2) whether transcendence is a purely progressive movement or a movement that involves regression at some point, (3) whether transcendence is a wholly immanent process or a process that involves contact with transcendent forces, (4) whether transcendence is primarily a matter of growth from within or transformation from without, and (5) whether transcendence ultimately leads beyond all selfhood or to a point at which a higher form of selfhood is achieved. Drawing on these contrasts, two general conclusions are drawn: (1) the two conceptions of transcende...
Differentiation of solid benign and malignant breast masses by quantitative analysis of ultrasound images

Although breast sonography is highly accurate at distinguishing solid from cystic lesions, it is less precise when differentiating benign and malignant masses. The goal of this study is to evaluate quantitative methods for differential diagnosis of solid breast masses. Three margin features extracted from B-Mode images, along with age of the patient, were analyzed by logistic regression to classify lesions as malignant or benign. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis assessed the diagnostic performance of each feature individually as well as collectively. In each case, classification performance was evaluated using a leave-one-out cross validation method. The robustness of the diagnostic algorithm was determined by studying effects of sample size and training level on the overall performance of the classifier. The results show that while there was no statistical difference in the size of benign and malignant lesions, the margin characteristics of the masses varied significantly, differentiating the two groups. When all the features were used together, the probability of malignancy for the solid breast masses could be determined with ROC area ranging from 0.83 to 0.89. Diagnostic accuracy was notably influenced by the size of the database, the ratio of malignant to benign lesions, and the training level of the algorithm. Significant diagnostic performance can be attained using margin characteristics of the lesions and logistic regression classifiers.
Validation of a cognitive assessment battery administered over the telephone.

Objectives: To evaluate the validity and reliability of a cognitive test battery and questionnaires administered by telephone. Design: Observational study; 110 participants randomly assigned to receive two administrations of the same cognitive test battery 6 months apart in one of four combinations (Time 1 administration/Time 2 administration): telephone/telephone, telephone/face to face, face to face/telephone, face to face/face to face. Setting: Academic medical center. Participants: One hundred ten women aged 65 to 90 without dementia. Measurements: The battery included tests of attention; verbal learning and memory; verbal fluency; executive function; working memory; global cognitive functioning; and self-reported measures of perceived memory problems, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance, and health-related quality of life. Test�retest reliability, concurrent validity, relative bias associated with telephone administration, and change scores were evaluated. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in scores on any of the cognitive tests or questionnaires between participants randomly assigned to telephone or face-to-face administration at the Time 1 assessment, indicating equivalence across administration modes. There was no significant bias for tests or questionnaires administered by telephone (P's > .01), nor was there a difference in mean change scores between administration modes except for Category Fluency (P = .01) and California Verbal Learning Test long-delay free recall (P = .004). Mean test�retest coefficients for the battery were not significantly different between groups, although individual test�retest correlation coefficients were generally higher within modes than between modes. Conclusion: Telephone administration of cognitive tests and questionnaires to older women is reliable and valid. Use of telephone batteries can substantially reduce the cost and burden of cognitive assessments and increase enrollment, retention, and data completeness, thereby improving study validity.
Using chemical approaches to study selenoproteins - focus on thioredoxin reductases

The study of selenocysteine-containing proteins is difficult due to the problems associated with the heterologous production of these proteins. These problems are due to the intricate recoding mechanism used by cells to translate the UGA codon as a sense codon for selenocysteine. The process is further complicated by the fact that eukaryotes and prokaryotes have different UGA recoding machineries. This review focuses on chemical approaches to produce selenoproteins and study the mechanism of selenoenzymes. The use of intein-mediated peptide ligation is discussed with respect to the production of the mammalian selenoenzymes thioredoxin reductase and selenoprotein R, also known as methionine sulfoxide reductase B1. New methods for removing protecting groups from selenocysteine post-synthesis and methods for selenosulfide/diselenide formation are also reviewed. Chemical approaches have also been used to study the enzymatic mechanism of thioredoxin reductase. The approach divides the enzyme into two modules, a large protein module lacking selenocysteine and a small, synthetic selenocysteine-containing peptide. Study of this semisynthetic enzyme has revealed three distinct enzymatic pathways that depend on the properties of the substrate. The enzyme utilizes a macromolecular mechanism for protein substrates, a second mechanism for small molecule substrates and a third pathway for selenium-containing substrates such as selenocystine.
Microbial Asymmetric Catalysis—Enantioselective Reduction of Ketones [New Synthetic Methods (45)]

Microbial asymmetric reduction of ketones is a method widely used for the preparation of chiral alcohols. The present progress report deals with the basic concepts that govern enantioselectivity of enzymes and intact cells. Strategies to control the stereochemical course of microbial reductions of carbonyl compounds and the relationship of substrate structure to enantioselectivity are considered.
Frequency controllable in vivo biological oscillators

This paper presents models and simulation results for two different tunable biological oscillators realized inside of the bacteria Escherichia Coli (E. coli). The first system considered is the Elowitz repressilator and simulations show that the period of oscillation can be varied between 151.4 minutes and 225.8 minutes. The second system is a relaxation oscillator whose period of oscillation varies between 61.8 minutes and 72.7 minutes. The period of oscillation of both oscillators is controlled using IPTG. These types of systems will be important in characterizing and developing models for the molecular and protein interactions within a biological cell.
Genetically influenced change in sensation seeking drives the rise of delinquent behavior during adolescence.

Sensation seeking is associated with an increased propensity for delinquency, and emerging research on personality change suggests that mean levels of sensation seeking increase substantially from childhood to adolescence. The current study tested whether individual differences in the rate of change of sensation seeking predicted within-person change in delinquent behavior and whether genetically influenced differences in rate of personality change accounted for this association. Sensation seeking and delinquent behavior were assessed biennially between ages 10–11 and 16–17 in a nationally representative sample of 7675 youths from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth: Children and Young Adults (CNLSY). Analyses using latent growth curve modeling found that within-person change in sensation seeking was significantly and positively correlated with within-person change in delinquency from childhood to adolescence. Furthermore, behavioral genetic analyses of a subset of 2562 sibling pairs indicated that there were substantial genetic influences on both initial levels of sensation seeking and change in sensation seeking during early adolescence, with over 80% of individual differences in change due to genetic factors. Finally, these genetically driven increases in sensation seeking were most important for predicting increases in delinquency, whereas environmental paths between sensation seeking and delinquency were not significant. These results suggest that developmental changes in delinquent behaviors during adolescence are driven by a genetically governed process of personality change.
Effects of imperfections on the dynamic aperture and closed orbit of the IPNS Upgrade synchrotron

Magnet imperfections and misalignments are analyzed in terms of their effects on the dynamic aperture and closed orbit of the IPNS Upgrade synchrotron. The dynamic aperture is limited primarily by the presence of chromaticity-correcting sextupoles. With the sextupoles energized to the values required to adjust the chromaticities to zero, further reductions of the dynamic aperture caused by dipole strength and roll errors, quadrupole strength and alignment errors, and higher-order multipole errors are studied by tracking. Design specifications for the dipole corrector magnets are obtained and the dynamic aperture is studied before and after correction of the closed orbit. The use of harmonic-correcting sextupoles to reduce the amplitude-dependent tune shifts driven by the chromaticity-correcting sextupoles is investigated.
Effects of cell volume regulating osmolytes on glycerol 3-phosphate binding to triosephosphate isomerase

During cell volume regulation, intracellular concentration changes occur in both inorganic and organic osmolytes in order to balance the extracellular osmotic stress and maintain cell volume homeostasis. Generally, salt and urea increase the Km's of enzymes and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) counteracts these effects by decreasing Km's. The hypothesis to account for these effects is that urea and salt shift the native state ensemble of the enzyme toward conformers that are substrate-binding incompetent (BI), while TMAO shifts the ensemble toward binding competent (BC) species. Km's are often complex assemblies of rate constants involving several elementary steps in catalysis, so to better understand osmolyte effects we have focused on a single elementary event, substrate binding. We test the conformational shift hypothesis by evaluating the effects of salt, urea, and TMAO on the mechanism of binding glycerol 3-phosphate, a substrate analogue, to yeast triosephosphate isomerase. Temperature-jump kinetic measurements promote a mechanism consistent with osmolyte-induced shifts in the [BI]/[BC] ratio of enzyme conformers. Importantly, salt significantly affects the binding constant through its effect on the activity coefficients of substrate, enzyme, and enzyme-substrate complex, and it is likely that TMAO and urea affect activity coefficients as well. Results indicate that the conformational shift hypothesis alone does not account for the effects of osmolytes on Km's.
Distribution of envelope power using selected mapping in OFDM systems with nonlinearity

Selected mapping (SLM) techniques have been used to reduce the high peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The capacity of PAR reduction can be increased by improving the PAR statistics at the cost of complexity of the OFDM transmitter. However, it is difficult to clarify the performance degradation in the presence of nonlinearities, such as a power amplifier (PA), with the PAR metric because the statistical distribution of PAR focuses only on the highest peak, even though PAR reduction can help to reduce the required PA backoff. The nonlinear distortion is related to the amount of signal greater than the saturated threshold value; therefore, it is desirable to know the envelope power distribution. In this paper, we derive a closed form expression for the envelope power distribution in SLM/OFDM systems with nonlinearity, and verify the derived expression with simulation results.
Information Quantity and Order in Students’ Tax Research Judgements

The Belief Adjustment model predicts recency effects for complex information encoded in a step-by-step process. However, the literature indicates that the recency effect may not carry-over to larger numbers of pieces of information. This may be a problem with the amount of information now available through the internet. Tax research tasks can have a number of pieces of information (cues). How tax students process information has not been studied extensively. This study extended prior work by investigating the effect of series of four, eight, and twelve cues on tax decisions made by undergraduate tax students. It was found that there was a strong overall recency order effect. However, the recency order effect seemed to be driven by the longer cue series, rather than by the shorter cue series. This is contrary to the predictions of the Belief Adjustment model. Keywords: Accounting Recency Tax Judgments Belief Adjustment Model JEL Classifications : H24, H29, H34, C12, C21, C91, M41
Hepatic protein synthesis in normal and acetoxycycloheximide-treated rats.

Abstract The intraperitoneal administration of acetoxycycloheximide to rats in vivo stimulates the incorporation of l -( 14 C)-phenylalanine into protein in a liver microsomal system in vitro after 24 hours. The increased incorporation of the system is associated predominantly with the microsomal fraction and to a minor extent with factors that may be present in the cell sap. Two microsomal effects can be differentiated. The first of these, dependent on endogenous messenger RNA, is more pronounced and prolonged, but is inhibited in the 6-hour period after the administration of the drug. The second, involving microsomal sensitivity to exogenous messenger RNA, is not initially inhibited. We find that female animals are more susceptible to acetoxycyoloheximide and more sensitive to the lethal action of the drug than the males. Both in vitro stimulation and in vivo inhibition of amino acid incorporation into protein are almost completely eliminated in hypophysectomized rats, although these responses to the drug are characteristic of intact animals. It would therefore appear that the mechanism of the action of acetoxycycloheximide depends on the integrity of the pituitary gland. In experiments with adrenalectomized rats we were able to demonstrate that they reacted to acetoxycycloheximide in a similar manner to intact animals.
Poor Predictive Validity of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development for Cognitive Function of Extremely Low Birth Weight Children at School Age

Objective. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID II) are commonly used to assess outcomes of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. We sought to assess the predictive validity of the BSID II Mental Developmental Index (MDI) for cognitive function at school age. Design/Methods. Of 330 ELBW infants admitted in 1992–1995, 238 (72%) survived to the age of 8 years, of whom 200 (84%) were tested at both 20 months’ corrected age (CA) and 8 years. Mean birth weight was 811 g, mean gestational age was 26.4 weeks, 41% were boys, and 60% were black. Measures included the BSID II at 20 months’ CA and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC) Mental Processing Composite (MPC) at 8 years’ postnatal age. BSID II MDI and MPC scores were compared and the predictive validity calculated for all 200 ELBW children and for the 154 ELBW neurosensory-intact subgroup. Predictors of stability or change in cognitive scores were examined via logistic regression adjusting for gender and sociodemographic status. Results. For all ELBW children, the mean MDI was 75.6 ± 16 versus a mean KABC of 87.8 ± 19. For the neurosensory-intact subgroup, the mean MDI was 79.3 ± 16 and the mean KABC was 92.3 ± 15. Rates of cognitive impairment, defined as an MDI or KABC of 70. Conclusions. The predictive validity of a subnormal MDI for cognitive function at school age is poor but better for ELBW children who have neurosensory impairments. We are concerned that decisions to provide intensive care for ELBW infants in the delivery room might be biased by reported high rates of cognitive impairments based on the use and presumptive validity of the BSID II MDI.
THE PARTY OF INVARIANTS ON SMOOTH THREE-FOLD HYPERSURFACES

ABSTRACT Motivated by Hartshorne's work on curves in ℙ3, we study the invariants of coherent sheaves on projective threefold hypersurfaces.
The impact of human resource management practices on operational performance: recognizing country and industry differences

The interest in strategic human resource management (HRM) has spawned a number of empirical research studies that investigated the impact of HRM practices on organizational performance. However, very little attention has been paid to address the impact of HRM practices on operations management and to generalize the findings across countries and industries. Success of some business decisions (e.g. globalization and merger and acquisition) necessitates recognition and reconciliation of the differences among HRM practices in different countries and industries. This study attempts to generalize the efficacy of seven HRM practices proposed by Pfeffer in the context of country and industry, focusing primarily on the effects of these practices on operations. The findings provide overall support for Pfeffer’s seven HRM practices and empirically validate an ideal-type HRM system for manufacturing plants. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Quantitative assessment of interstitial implants

Quantitative assessment of interstitial implants is proposed using volume versus dose curves and four well-defined dosimetric parameters. The volume versus dose curves, both differential and cumulative, provide quantitative data on the volumes of tissues irradiated to different doses. They also offer a qualitative assessment of the variations in dose delivery. The dose nonuniformity ratio (DNR) quantitatively determines the degree of dose nonuniformity specific to the implant configuration. The dose rate at which the DNR shows a minimum value, if selected as the treatment dose rate, gives an optimized dose distribution. The three volumetric irradiation indices are formulated with respect to a well-defined target volume. They offer quantitative data on the extent to which the implant delivers the prescribed dose to the target volume. These dosimetric parameters determine the degree of coverage of the target volume, dose homogeneity within the target volume, and irradiation of tissues outside the target volume. The method of quantitative assessment is demonstrated using, as examples, an ideal Ir-192 double-plane implant and an actual clinical Ir-192 double-plane breast implant.
Robust dynamic balance of AP-1 transcription factors in a neuronal gene regulatory network.

Background The octapeptide Angiotensin II is a key hormone that acts via its receptor AT1R in the brainstem to modulate the blood pressure control circuits and thus plays a central role in the cardiac and respiratory homeostasis. This modulation occurs via activation of a complex network of signaling proteins and transcription factors, leading to changes in levels of key genes and proteins. AT1R initiated activity in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), which regulates blood pressure, has been the subject of extensive molecular analysis. But the adaptive network interactions in the NTS response to AT1R, plausibly related to the development of hypertension, are not understood.
Efficacy of newer anticonvulsant medications in bipolar spectrum mood disorders.

Background More treatment options for all phases of bipolar disorder are needed. While lithium, valproate, and carbamazepine remain the standard of care for treatment of bipolar disorder, many patients do not respond adequately to these treatments. Some new antiepileptic medications such as lamotrigine, gabapentin, topiramate, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine, and zonisamide are beginning to be used to treat bipolar disorder. Data sources Evidence for effectiveness of these novel antiepileptic drugs in treating acute mania and depression as well as in preventing the recurrence of mania and depression is reviewed. A MEDLINE search (1966-2001) was performed for clinical trials that were published in English using the keywords lamotrigine, gabapentin, topiramate, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine, and zonisamide, plus the terms bipolar disorder and mania. Evidence for effectiveness of monotherapy is presented first when it is available. Data from augmentation treatment studies and open case series in which standard ratings of symptoms were employed are presented when these are the only available data. Data synthesis Twenty-eight reports of the efficacy of novel antiepileptic medications in bipolar disorder are reviewed. Evidence is strongest for lamotrigine monotherapy in patients with bipolar depression, in some patients with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, and as prophylaxis. Evidence for the efficacy of topiramate in acute and refractory mania is promising but comes predominantly from open trials. Although some very small studies have found that oxcarbazepine and zonisamide may have some effectiveness for treating mania, these data are very preliminary. Results are mixed from the 2 small open trials of tiagabine. Although gabapentin is widely used in bipolar disorder, controlled data do not support the use of gabapentin as an antimanic medication or mood stabilizer. Conclusion More controlled trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of novel antiepileptic medications in bipolar disorder.
Scanning and transmission electron microscopy as tools for the study of phagocytosis of bacteria adherent to hard surfaces

A technique for studying the phagocytosis of bacteria colonizing hard surfaces is described. Rabbit peritoneal macrophages were allowed to settle on the surface of high-molecular-weight polyethylene which had been previously colonized by Escherichia coli. To ascertain the presence of bacteria on the surface of the polyethylene and the degree of spreading of the attached macrophages, the preparations were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The ingestion of E. coli by the macrophages was studied by transmission electron microscopy on ultrathin sections of resin-embedded monolayers after their separation from the polyethylene surface. Numerous intracellular bacteria were located near the area of attachment of the macrophages to the substrata, suggesting that the phagocytosis of bacteria adherent to the surface of the plastic had taken place.
LLC Material Participation Policy Shift: New Regulations Focus on Management Rights

Until it issued proposed regulations in November 2011, the IRS had treated members of limited liability companies (LLC's) and limited liability partnerships (LLP's) presumptively as limited partners for purposes of the passive loss limitations under an outdated set of Sec. 469 temporary regulations issued in 1988. After losing several significant court cases, the IRS has relented and changed its limited partner test, shifting the focus from limited liability to managerial responsibility. The courts have held that LLC and LLP members should not presumptively be treated as "limited partners" when applying the regulations' material participation tests because state law allows members of these hybrid entities to participate in management. Thus, managing members frequently can meet one of the general material participation tests. While the IRS has taken a first step to resolve the issue, the proposed rules are unclear in some respects, and the new policy will not take effect until the regulations are finalized. The IRS also missed an opportunity to address a related LLC issue, the treatment of LLC members for purposes of the self-employment tax. Still, a significant policy shift has taken place that more accurately reflects the prevailing methods of doing business as a member-managed Limited Liability Company.
Development and optimization of microbeam X-ray fluorescence analysis of Sr in speleothems

Abstract Trace-metal abundances and ratios (Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, Ba/Ca) in speleothems can be indicators of the hydrogeochemical processes active in overlying epikarst and serve as valuable proxies for precipitation amount and source, water residence time, and vegetation cover. However, conventional methods of trace element acquisition can be expensive, time-consuming, and destructive. A semi-portable μ-XRF system is compared to other methods, as it is non-destructive, rapid, and has the capacity to provide high quality datasets. A suite of test scans was performed in order to define the appropriate methodology for the application of μ-XRF in trace metal analysis of speleothems. Statistical analyses were performed on an experimental dataset in order to assess the precision with which data were obtained and determined that there is no evidence for time-dependent behavior within the data and there is no evidence that the data do not follow a Poisson distribution. The optimal count time varies from sample to sample, as it was determined to be a function of the desired level of analytical uncertainty. Sr results for a speleothem obtained through LA-ICP-OES show a high degree of comparability to results obtained through μ-XRF and demonstrate the suitability of this non-destructive method. Sr counts can also be converted to concentration [ppm] via X-ray-tube-dependent calibration curves.
Causes of death among u.s. military personnel: a 14-year summary, 1980-1993

Data extracted from the Report of Casualty (DD Form 1300) of the Department of Defense's Worldwide Casualty System were used to describe the 27,070 deaths among active duty personnel for the 14-year period 1980 through 1993. Ninety-five percent of all military deaths occurred among males and 84% among enlisted personnel. Unintentional injuries were the leading cause of death among both males (61%) and females (52%). Diseases accounted for about 20% of all death and represented the second most significant cause of death for both male and female service personnel. Suicide was the third leading major cause of death among males (13%), followed by homicide (5%); among females this order was reversed, with homicide (14%) exceeding suicide (12%). About 2% of all deaths resulted from combat. The findings presented here are useful in identifying cause-specific high-risk groups in each of the four service branches and directing appropriate prevention strategies.
Selective Formation of Graphene on a Si Wafer

We report a technique that can, in principle, selectively convert SiC into graphene at any location and in any size or shape, limited only by the ability of the available lithographic techniques. This technique relies on our discovery that, at ambient condition, a laser beam can convert SiC into graphene layers at the illuminated site, and the conversion can be realized in two ways. One can pattern the SiC film, which is already grown on a Si wafer, with desirable features and then illuminate the SiC film with the laser, or simply “write” the graphene features directly onto the unpatterned SiC film with the laser. Alternatively, one can pre-pattern the Si substrate to achieve selective growth of SiC, then perform the laser conversion. We have demonstrated the feasibility of both approaches. Fullerene (C60) was used to grow a thin SiC film on a Si (111) substrate using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) at 700-800 °C. The results are verified by various structural, chemical and optical characterization techniques. This work yields the possibility of fabricating graphene based (electronic) nanostructures or superlattices, photonic crystals, and integrated electronic and optoelectronic devices on a large Si wafer.
Survival of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus during commercial heat treatment of slab bacon and consumer preparation of sliced bacon.

With the knowledge that retail pork products may be contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the risk of consumers contracting a MRSA infection or foodborne illness from processed meats, especially bacon, is uncertain. Therefore, a study was designed to investigate the survival of MRSA during heat treatment of slab bacon at a commercial process and during cooking of sliced bacon at the consumer level. Fresh pork bellies were injected with a curing solution, inoculated, and heat treated to an internal temperature of 52°C. Three commercial brands of sliced bacon with similar “sell by” dates and fat-to-lean ratios were also inoculated and cooked at a temperature of 177°C for 0, 2, and 5 min on each side. Heat-treated slab bacon showed a log reduction of 1.89, which was significant (P 6.5 log CFU/cm2, and there was not a significant brand interaction (P > 0.05).
Comparison of Gentamicin and Polymyxin B-Kanamycin in Therapy of Bacteremia Due to Gram-Negative Bacilli

Seventy-five patients with a presumptive diagnosis of bacteremia due to gramnegative bacilli were treated, by random selection, with either gentamicin alone or a combination of kanamycin and polymyxin B. Most of the infections originated in the urinary tract, and patients within each therapeutic group were shown to be comparable. Rates of survival were similar: 85.4% in the group treated with gentamicin, and 82.3% in the group treated with kanamycin-polymyxin B. It was
DECISION MAKING AS A FUNCTION OF SELF AND OTHERS

Subjects read short scenarios involving a conflict of whether to sell or lease a business that they inherited. They were asked to rank points of arguments, for and against to selling or leasing as if (1) they were personally involved in the conflict or (2) they were to support one or the other position taken by a protagonist(s). Some points of argument were responded to differently as a function of one or the other orientations.
Trends in the Psychological Study of Contemporary Antisemitism: Conceptual Issues and Empirical Evidence

ABSTRACTThis article reviews evidence bearing on whether antisemitism has recently reemerged as a dangerous and global sociopolitical problem. Two empirical studies then explore how psychologists and other social scientists have investigated anti–Jewish bigotry. The first looks at research trends in major social scientific databases since the 1940s. The second is a content analysis of abstracts of psychological studies on antisemitism since 1990. The article concludes, among other findings, that while social scientific aspects of the Holocaust have been studied in some detail, contemporary anti-Jewish hostility has been underestimated, and antisemitism from the Muslim/Arab world has been largely ignored.
Screening of fungicides against apple tree valsa canker

In order to screen out the proper fungicides against apple tree valsa canker,22 fungicides were used to test bacteriostatic rate under different concentration.The results showed that bacteriostatic rate was100% when the concentration of Paenibacillus polymyxa and Bacillus subtilis was 18uL/100 mL,and the suitable concentration of polyoxins,propiconazole,tebuconazole,prochloraz and difenoconazole was 22.5mg/(100mL),60μL/100 mL,75μL/(100mL),75μL/(100mL) and 60mg/100 mL respectively.
Waveguiding Microactuators Based on a Photothermally Responsive Nanocomposite Hydrogel

The incorporation of gold nanoparticles within thermally responsive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) hydrogels provides a simple means to define photothermally addressable materials. Relying on such composite gels, it is established here that micropatterned bilayer photoactuators demonstrate rapid and highly reversible bending and unbending behavior in response to illumination with visible light. In addition to actuation by free space light, as in most previous research on such responsive nanocomposite hydrogels, light from a 532 nm laser is also waveguided through a plastic optical fiber directly into the photoactuator, providing remotely controllable actuators that do not require line-of-sight access.
Dependence of cardiac filling pressure on cardiac output during rest and dynamic exercise in dogs

At rest, central venous pressure (CVP) falls when cardiac output (CO) rises. This can be attributed to flow-dependent redistribution of blood volume from central to peripheral blood vessels. In contrast, CVP rises during dynamic exercise despite a rise in CO. Therefore peripheral circulatory changes during exercise must counteract the factors that lower CVP when CO rises during rest. Our objectives were to determine the importance of blood flow, the muscle pump, and reflexes on changes in ventricular filling pressure during dynamic exercise. In seven dogs with a surgically produced atrioventricular (AV) block, normal relationships between CO and CVP were established by AV-linked pacing (normal heart rates) during rest and exercise. Cardiac output was altered during rest and treadmill exercise (4 miles/h at 0, 10, or 20% grade) by changing ventricular pacing rate to establish curves relating delta CVP to delta CO. These curves were displaced rightward (higher CO) and upward (higher CVP) by exercise because of the muscle pump. Changing CO by pacing during rest and exercise revealed a constant slope for delta CVP/delta CO of -2.7 mmHg.l-1.min-1. Blockade of reflex vasoconstriction and venoconstriction with hexamethonium at rest and during mild exercise (to isolate effects of the muscle pump) did not alter these slopes or the displacement of the curves by exercise, although CVP was 4.3 mmHg lower at a given CO after blockade.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Applications of Extracellular RNAs in Oncology

Extracellular RNAs consist of coding and non-coding transcripts released from all cell types, which are involved in multiple cellular processes, predominantly through regulation of gene expression. Recent advances have helped us better understand the functions of these molecules, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs). Numerous pre-clinical and human studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are dysregulated in cancer and contribute to tumorigenesis and metastasis. miRNA profiling has extensively been evaluated as a non-invasive method for cancer diagnosis, prognostication, and assessment of response to cancer therapies. Broader applications for miRNAs in these settings are currently under active development. Investigators have also moved miRNAs into the realm of cancer therapy. miRNA antagonists targeting miRNAs that silence tumor suppressor genes have shown promising pre-clinical activity. Alternatively, miRNA mimics that silence oncogenes are also under active investigation. These miRNA-based cancer therapies are in early development, but represent novel strategies for clinical management of human cancer.
Managing Uncertainty in Time Expressions for Virtual Assistants

"Remind me to get milk later this afternoon." In communications and planning, people often express uncertainty about time using imprecise temporal expressions (ITEs). Unfortunately, modern virtual assistants often lack system support to capture the intents behind these expressions. This can result in unnatural interactions and undesirable interruptions (e.g., having a work reminder delivered at 12pm when out at lunch, because the user said "this afternoon"). In this paper we explore existing practices, expectations, and preferences surrounding the use of ITEs. Our mixed methods approach employs surveys, interviews, and an analysis of a large corpus of written communications. We find that people frequently use a diverse set of ITEs in both communication and planning. These uses reflect a variety of motivations, such as conveying uncertainty or task priority. In addition, we find that people have a variety of expectations about time input and management when interacting with virtual assistants. We conclude with design implications for future virtual assistants.
Theory of {tau} mesonic decays

Studies of {tau} mesonic decays are presented. A mechanism for the axial-vector current at low energies is proposed. The VMD is used to treat the vector current. All the meson vertices of both normal parity and abnormal parity (Wess-Zumino-Witten anomaly) are obtained from an effective chiral theory of mesons. a{sub 1} dominance is found in the decay modes of the {tau} lepton: 3{pi}, f(1285){pi}. Both the {rho} and the a{sub 1} meson contribute to the decay {tau}{r_arrow}K{sup {asterisk}}K{nu}; it is found that the vector current is dominant. CVC is tested by studying e{sup +}e{sup {minus}}{r_arrow}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup {minus}}. The branching ratios of {tau}{r_arrow}{omega}{pi}{nu} and K{bar K}{nu} are calculated. In terms of a similar mechanism the {Delta}s=1 decay modes of the {tau} lepton are studied and K{sub a} dominance is found in {tau}{r_arrow}K{sup {asterisk}}{pi}{nu} and K{sup {asterisk}}{eta}{nu}. The suppression of {tau}{r_arrow}K{rho}{nu} is revealed. The branching ratio of {tau}{r_arrow}{eta}K{nu} is computed. As a test of this theory, the form factors of {pi}{r_arrow}e{gamma}{nu} and K{r_arrow}e{gamma}{nu} are determined. The theoretical results agree with data reasonably well. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Why Flash Type Matters: A Statistical Analysis

While the majority of research only differentiates between intra-cloud (IC) and cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes; there exists a third flash type, known as hybrid flashes. These flashes have extensive IC components as well as return strokes to ground, but are misclassified as CG flashes in current flash type analyses due to the presence of a return stroke. In an effort to show that IC, CG and hybrid flashes should be separately classified, the two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test was applied to the flash sizes, flash initiation and flash propagation altitudes for each of the three flash types. The KS test statistically showed that IC, CG and hybrid flashes do not have the same parent distributions and thus should be separately classified. Separate classification of hybrid flashes will lead to improved lightning-related research, because unambiguously classified hybrid flashes occur on the same order of magnitude as CG flashes for multicellular storms.
Gender and Conflict

Violent conflicts come with a high level of wreckage on lives, property, and survival networks. Armed conflict terrorizes and kills large numbers of people, creates economic dislocation, human and capital flight, massive impoverishment and social breakdown. Thus, making the challenges faced by post-conflict countries more severe than those faced by poor but peaceful developing countries. During a war, women are considered vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, sexual slavery, disease, and forced recruitment into armed groups. As survivors of violent conflict, they bear the burden of reconstruction. This kind of stereotypical connotation associated with women has led to gender inequality regarding who is considered as weak and victim during a war. It is contended that men are the ones who engage in war and when they are killed, disappear, or dislocated, women are left behind with the burden of ensuring family livelihood. Women and their roles in society have become more and more prominent not only in the scientific discussions of conflict but also post-conflict reconstruction and sustenance of peace. This work, therefore, sought to discuss how the discourse about war is gendered and throwed light on gendered violence in contemporary warfare and the gendered role played during war/conflict. Besides, it discusses the impact of conflict on women as well as the role women played in post-conflict reconstruction to enhance development. I do not try to base my arguments on a bias male perspective but the available literature and contend that though women suffer violence in war-torn societies, they are not only victims of war but also engage in war.
Extensions of the Monte Carlo Simulation in Semiconductors to Fast Processes

The modeling of relaxation and transport in semiconductors is often performed using Monte Carlo techniques in which the scattering events are defined to include carrier-phonon interactions and Coulomb interactions among various carrier species and the ionized impurities. We consider situations in which this approach is inappropriate, and describe corresponding implementations of a more accurate technique for the Coulomb interaction in which the usual Monte Carlo technique is combined with a molecular dynamics time evolution between scattering events. In this approach, the Coulomb interaction is augmented by an exchnage Hamiltonian so that the particle dynamics incorporates quantum corrections.
Deuterium Spin Relaxation and Molecular Motion in Liquid Crystals

Nuclear spin relaxation is a particularly useful tool for investigating molecular motion in liquid crystals because there are many motional processes with correlation times in the vicinity of nuclear Larmor frequencies. A partial list of such processes includes molecular reorientation, quasicoherent director fluctuations (1), fluctuations of local order (2), translation-rotation coupling (3, 4), and chemical exchange between “sites” of different degrees of local order (5). It is generally far from trivial to decide what combination of processes is the dominant source of spin relaxation, and measurements over as wide a range of Larmor frequencies as possible are needed. In addition, different motional processes may have characteristically different temperature dependence, although it must be noted that quantitative analysis of the temperature dependence is often hindered by lack of sufficient information about hydrodynamic parameters which appear in director fluctuation theories.
Complications Following Overlapping Orthopaedic Procedures at an Ambulatory Surgery Center.

BACKGROUND Overlapping surgery occurs when a single surgeon is the primary surgeon for >1 patient in separate operating rooms simultaneously. The surgeon is present for the critical portions of each patient's operation although not present for the entirety of the case. While overlapping surgery has been widely utilized across surgical subspecialties, few large studies have compared the safety of overlapping and nonoverlapping surgery. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the charts of patients who had undergone orthopaedic surgery at our ambulatory surgery center during the period of April 2009 and October 2015. A database of operations, including patient and surgical characteristics, was compiled. Complications had been identified and logged into the database by surgeons monthly over the study period. These monthly reports and case logs were reviewed retrospectively to identify complications. Propensity-score weighting and logistic regression models were used to determine the association between outcomes and overlapping surgery. RESULTS A total of 22,220 operations were included. Of these, 5,198 (23%) were overlapping, and 17,022 (77%) were nonoverlapping. The median duration of surgery overlap was 8 minutes (quartile 1 to quartile 3, 3 to 16 minutes); no operations were concurrent. After weighting, the only continuous variables that differed significantly between the groups were operative time (median, 57 compared with 56 minutes for the overlapping and the nonoverlapping group, respectively; p = 0.022), anesthesia time (median, 97 compared with 93 minutes; p < 0.001), and total tourniquet time (median, 26 compared with 22 minutes; p = 0.0093). Multivariable logistic regression models did not demonstrate an association between overlapping surgery and surgical site infection, noninfection surgical complications, hospitalization, or morbidity. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that there is no association between briefly overlapping surgery and surgical site infection, noninfection surgical complications, hospitalization, and morbidity. When practiced in the manner described herein, overlapping orthopaedic surgery can be a safe practice in the ambulatory setting. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.