cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The chemical mass balance as a multivariate calibration problem

Abstract The problem of source identification and quantitative mass apportion for airborne particulate matter commonly called receptor modeling can be treated in a manner analogous to the multivariate calibration problem commonly encountered in chemometrics. Partial least-squares (PLS) has been previously used in such a context. In this work, artificial neural networks (ANN) and simulated annealing (SA) have been applied to the sets of simulated data. The aerosol composition data generated by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) for the 1982 EPA workshop on mathematical and empirical receptor modeling held at Quail Roost, NC, have been examined. From these tests of ANN and SA and earlier work on partial least-squares, it appears that multivariate calibration methods may be helpful in resolving sources and apportioning the airborne mass. ANN was better able to deal with the collinearity in the source profile matrix. For CMB and PLS, this collinearity prevented the apportionment of mass to all of the known sources. In addition, ANN could identify which sources were active when trained with a source profile library containing more sources than actually contributed to the samples. SA produced more accurate source contribution estimates than the other methods, but was also bothered by the collinearity to the same degree as the CMB or PLS results. Thus, the initial results with these methods are promising, but further development and testing are needed before they can be routinely used.
Vertical habitat segregation as a mechanism for coexistence in sympatric rodents

Coexistence has been widely studied in small mammals and frequently is assumed to be facilitated by habitat segregation. Using live trapping and spool-and-line experiments, we analyzed habitat selection and segregation across multiples scales for Peromyscus leucopus and Ochrotomys nuttalli. At the habitat scale of a forest stand (~1-100s ha) P. leucopus co-occurred at all sites where O. nuttalli was found, and we did not detect evidence of positive or negative associations or habitat segregation. However, O. nuttalli was restricted to early successional forests, and P. leucopus had significantly lower abundances in early successional forests than in other habitats. We found similar patterns at the mesohabitat scale of the study site (400 m2). O. nuttalli abundance increased with increasing shrub and tree densities, while increases in P. leucopus abundance were associated with open understories. At the microhabitat scale of the individual movement trail, we found vertical segregation. Movement trails for O. nuttalli were at significantly higher elevation (mean height = 142.93 ± 37.10 cm) than P. leucopus trails (mean height = 15.4 ± 4.98 cm; F-value = 35.29, p < 0.001). We concluded that microhabitat segregation was driven by differential use of vertical space for movement and foraging. We suggest O. nuttalli is superior to P. leucopus in its ability to acquire food especially in shrubby subcanopies where few acorns are available. However, P. leucopus is superior in its ability to forage and avoid predators.
Sequential identification of hysteretic and viscous models in structural seismic dynamics

Abstract In this paper the sequential identification approach outlined in [1]is employed to estimate the parameters of a bilinear hysteric model of the kinematic type. Emphasis is placed on the development of an estimation routine geared to bypass the difficulty originating from the indetermination of the identification problem in terms of the three parameters associated with the piecewise linear model employed. Numerical experimentation using simulated data is presented to show the feasibility and accuracy of the method. An additional example involving the modeling of a real steel frame tested on a seismic table is finally presented as a preliminary incursion into the field of modeling and identification of real structures.
Chunking during serial learning by a pigeon. I, Basic evidence

Chunking by pigeons was demonstrated by comparing performance on different types of lists. Experiment 1 showed that Groups II and IV (who learned lists in which colors and achromatic geometric forms were segregated: A----B----C----D'----E' and A----B----C----D----E', respectively) executed lists more rapidly than did Group I (who learned a homogeneous list of colors: A----B----C----D----E) or Groups II and III (who learned lists consisting of unsegregated colors and forms: A----B'----C----D'----E and A----B----C'----D----E, respectively). Experiment 2 showed that Groups II and IV tolerated interruptions of the list better than did Groups I, III, and V. The accuracy of responding of Groups I, III, and V decreased as a function of the duration of the interruption and the point in the sequence at which it occurred. The performance of Group II was unaffected by interruptions; Group IV was minimally affected. These results indicate that Groups II and IV organized their lists as ordered chunks.
Review: neuronal-glial interactions in central sensitization

Abstract Pain facilitation has conventionally been viewed as being created and maintained solely by neurons, whereas glia (microglia and astrocytes) were not considered to be involved. Current views of glial function include a dynamic role within the spinal cord dorsal horns to create and maintain enhanced pain. This review summarizes how spinal cord glia are now implicated in diverse exaggerated pain states by proinflammatory cytokines and other potential mediators of glia-neuron communication. Glial activation is shown to be necessary and sufficient to create pain facilitation in laboratory animals. The implications for potential clinical therapeutic treatment is discussed.
Adipocyte Differentiation: When precursors are also regulators

As well as being the precursors of the triacylglycerols deposited as fat in adipose tissue, long-chain fatty acids are one class of agents that induce the differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes.
Partial Facetectomy for Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis

Background. Several different techniques exist to address the pain and disability caused by isolated nerve root impingement. Failure to adequately decompress the lumbar foramen may lead to failed back surgery syndrome. However, aggressive treatment often causes spinal instability or may require fusion for satisfactory results. We describe a novel technique for decompression of the lumbar nerve root and demonstrate its effectiveness in relief of radicular symptoms. Methods. Partial facetectomy was performed by removal of the medial portion of the superior facet in patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis. 47 patients underwent the procedure from 2001 to 2010. Those who demonstrated neurogenic claudication without spinal instability or central canal stenosis and failed conservative management were eligible for the procedure. Functional level was recorded for each patient. These patients were followed for an average of 3.9 years to evaluate outcomes. Results. 27 of 47 patients (57%) reported no back pain and no functional limitations. Eight of 47 patients (17%) reported moderate pain, but had no limitations. Six of 47 patients (13%) continued to experience degenerative symptoms. Five of 47 patients (11%) required additional surgery. Conclusions. Partial facetectomy is an effective means to decompress the lumbar nerve root foramen without causing spinal instability.
Schizophrenia as a Disorder of Social Communication

Evidence is reviewed for the existence of a core system for moment-to-moment social communication that is based on the perception of dynamic gestures and other social perceptual processes in the temporal-parietal occipital junction (TPJ), including the posterior superior temporal sulcus (PSTS) and surrounding regions. Overactivation of these regions may produce the schizophrenic syndrome. The TPJ plays a key role in the perception and production of dynamic social, emotional, and attentional gestures for the self and others. These include dynamic gestures of the body, face, and eyes as well as audiovisual speech and prosody. Many negative symptoms are characterized by deficits in responding within these domains. Several properties of this system have been discovered through single neuron recording, brain stimulation, neuroimaging, and the study of neurological impairment. These properties map onto the schizophrenic syndrome. The representation of dynamic gestures is multimodal (auditory, visual, and tactile), matching the predominant hallucinatory categories in schizophrenia. Inherent in the perceptual signal of gesture representation is a computation of intention, agency, and anticipation or expectancy (for the self and others). The neurons are also tuned or biased to rapidly detect threat-related emotions. I review preliminary evidence that overactivation of this system can result in schizophrenia.
Factors influencing commuting choices in suburban labor markets: A case analysis of Pleasanton, California

Abstract Worsening suburban congestion in recent years has sparked considerable interest in the travel behavior of suburban workers. This paper examines workplace characteristics have influenced the modal and temporal travel choices of suburban employees, using Pleasanton, California, a fast-growing suburb of the San Francisco Bay Area, as a case setting. The incidence of ridesharing was found to be highest for large companies of single-tenant sites with predominantly white-collar workers. Employers who offer workers flex-time privileges tend to be smaller firms with professional staffs situated in multitenant complexes. Many opt for flex-time because they do not have a critical mass of workers to successfully launch and sustain ridesharing programs. Flex-time programs were found to hinder the formation of carpools and vanpools in suburban settings like Pleasanton. The preferred traffic management program, it is argued, would encourage the staggering of work schedules across, not within, companies in order to promote more ridesharing.
HIV-associated metabolic and morphologic abnormality syndrome. Welcome therapy may have unwelcome effects.

PREVIEWRecently, the remarkable progress of medical science in treatment of HIV and AIDS has been found to have a price tag attached. Physicians are encountering a litany of heretofore-unrecognized metabolic abnormalities and bizarre body-composition changes in patients receiving the antiretroviral therapy that has so greatly improved their lives. In this article, Dr Cohan describes changes that have been reported and identifies potential pathophysiologic mechanisms. In addition, he offers insight into treatment of this syndrome, which is only beginning to be recognized and studied.
Synthesis and characterization of novel hyperbranched poly(imide silsesquioxane) membranes

A new family of hyperbranched polymers with chemical bonds between the hyperbranched polyimide and polysilsesquioxane network was synthesized by the reaction of an amine-terminated aromatic hyperbranched polyimide with 3-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane, followed by hydrolysis and polycondensation in the presence of an acid catalyst. The hyperbranched poly(imide silsesquioxane) membranes were fabricated by the casting the aforementioned polymer solution onto a NaCl optical flat, which was followed by heating at 80 °C for 24 h. The membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption and desorption, and CO2 adsorption and desorption. The presence of covalent bonds between the hyperbranched polyimide and polysilsesquioxane segments had a significant effect on the properties of the membranes. N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms for these membranes showed surface areas of 6–16 m2/g, whereas CO2 adsorption–desorption isotherms showed much higher surface areas in the range of 106–127 m2/g. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3736–3743, 2003
Wear simulation of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty systems: effect of glenosphere design

Background Although early results with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) have been promising, concern exists about the high reported rates of scapular notching and the potential for catastrophic failure of glenoid component fixation. Generation of polyethylene wear debris may also contribute to notching and osteolysis of the scapula. A testing model for polyethylene wear is currently unavailable for reverse shoulder prostheses. The goal of this study was to develop a testing protocol using a commercially available hip simulator. Component design may also influence the generation of polyethylene debris. It is hypothesized that increased polyethylene wear occurs in glenospheres with holes in the articulating surface. Materials and methods Custom fixtures were fabricated to simulate both glenohumeral abduction and flexion on a 12-station hip wear simulator. Loading profiles for both abduction and flexion were alternated every 250,000 cycles for a total of 5 million cycles. Gravimetric analysis of humeral cups throughout the test was used to characterize wear. Lubricant fluid was collected throughout the test and digested for polyethylene particle analysis. Results Comparisons of volumetric wear rates and total volume loss between glenospheres with and without holes and between flexion and abduction loading profiles showed similar results. Particle analysis displayed fibrillar particles with an equivalent circle diameter of 0.3 ± .1 μm and an aspect ratio of 2.5 ± 1.4. Conclusions This study represents the first wear simulation and particle characterization of reverse shoulder systems. No significant difference in wear was reported between glenospheres with and without holes.
Beyond the Average Divorce

Ch 1. Introduction: Variations in and Fluidity of Divorce Experiences and Outcomes PART I: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL TOOLS FOR STUDYING THE DIVORCE PROCESS Ch 2. Conceptualizing Divorce Variation and Fluidity Ch 3. Research Methods for Stuyding Variation and Fluidity in Divorce Ch 4. Divorce and Family Transitions in Societal Context PART II: THE DIVORCE PROCESS AND ITS MULTIPLE PATHWAYS Ch 5. Variations in Predivorce Family Environments and Trajectories Ch 6. Variations in Separation and Uncoupling Ch 7. Variation and Fluidity in Adult Adjustment to Divorce Ch 8. Variation and Fluidity in Children's Adjustment to Divorce Ch 9. Adult and Child Experiences of Multiple Family Structure Transitions PART III: FUTURE DIRECTIONS Ch 10. Implications and Conclusions References
Utility of diagnostic tests for detection of Helicobacter pylori in children in northeastern Mexico.

The presence of Helicobacter pylori in pediatric population has been associated with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) although this association is unclear. One of the major problems in studying the role of H. pylori in RAP is that methods used to detect the bacteria in children have poor sensitivity and specificity. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of H. pylori in pediatric patients with RAP in northeastern Mexico and to assess the diagnostic utility of invasive tests and serology in this population. A total of 40 patients (mean age 7.9 years; range 2 - 16 years; F: M 0.81) who underwent an endoscopy procedure for RAP were studied. The presence of H. pylori was assessed using invasive diagnostic tests (culture rapid urease test polymerase chain reaction and histology) and one non-invasive test: determination of IgG antibodies. The prevalence of H. pylori in the present group and the diagnostic utility for each test were evaluated. The prevalence of H. pylori in the present pediatric group with RAP was 12.5 - 42.5% depending on the criteria of positivity used. The non-invasive methods (serology) had acceptable values in sensitivity and specificity in comparison with invasive tests. This is the first report on prevalence of H. pylori in pediatric patients with RAP from the northeastern region of Mexico. The prevalence of H. pylori was low compared with the adult population in the same geographic region. Serology had the best diagnostic utility. (authors)
Computer Software for Farm Management Extension

The authors describe their recent experience in designing computer programs for use in farm management extension. They argue that the software (that is, computer programs) needs of extension are more demanding than the corresponding needs for research and that this explains the slow adoption of computer technology in the extension field. Although the development of appropriate computer programs can involve a major initial investment, this is nevertheless the only way to get the variable (and average) cost of computer advice to farmers down to an economic level.
Spherical indentation load-relaxation of soft biological tissues

Elastic-viscoelastic correspondence was used to generate displacement–time solutions for spherical indentation testing of soft biological materials with time-dependent mechanical behavior. Boltzmann hereditary integral operators were used to determine solutions for indentation load-relaxation following a constant displacement rate ramp. A “ramp correction factor” approach was used for routine analysis of experimental load-relaxation data. Experimental load-relaxation tests were performed on rubber, as well as kidney tissue and costal cartilage, two hydrated soft biological tissues with vastly different mechanical responses. The experimental data were fit to the spherical indentation ramp-relaxation solutions to obtain values of short- and long-time shear modulus and of material time constants. The method is used to demonstrate linearly viscoelastic responses in rubber, level-independent indentation results for costal cartilage, and age-independent indentation results for kidney parenchymal tissue.
A SAS® macro implementation of a multiple comparison post hoc test for a Kruskal-Wallis analysis

The Kruskal-Wallis (KW) nonparametric analysis of variance is often used instead of a standard one-way ANOVA when data are from a suspected non-normal population. The KW omnibus procedure tests for some differences between groups, but provides no specific post hoc pair wise comparisons. This paper provides a SAS^(R) macro implementation of a multiple comparison test based on significant Kruskal-Wallis results from the SAS NPAR1WAY procedure. The implementation is designed for up to 20 groups at a user-specified alpha significance level. A Monte-Carlo simulation compared this nonparametric procedure to commonly used parametric multiple comparison tests.
A qualitative exploratory study of substance abuse prevention outcomes in a heterogeneous prevention system

The prevention of abuse of alcohol and other drugs is a concern for parents, policy-makers, educators, and social service professionals. Prevention programs are sponsored by many different types of social and educational agencies using a variety of intervention strategies. This article reports a study of a sample of such programs in the state of Nevada. The overall prevention system in the state espouses a “risk and resiliency” approach to prevention. Focus group methodology was used to study perception of outcomes of these programs from the viewpoints of various program stakeholders (youth participating in the programs, parents of participants and program staff). Analysis of the qualitative data yielded findings about potential outcomes as well as implicit program theories. Implications for future planning efforts as well as further evaluation efforts are discussed.
Effects of Sodium and Potassium on Binding of Ouabain to the Transport Adenosine Triphosphatase

Abstract The effects of sodium and potassium on the rate of ouabain binding to sodium and potassium ion-activated adenosine triphosphatase, isolated from the outer medulla of canine kidney, were examined in the presence of a magnesium ATP complex (37°; pH 7.4). In the presence of high sodium (≥ 10 mm), sodium accelerated and potassium retarded the rate of binding through a process kinetically defined by competition between sodium and potassium for a common site. The slow rate of binding in the presence of magnesium·ATP was also elevated by low sodium and retarded by potassium. The sensitivity of the latter reaction to potassium appeared to be an inverse function of the magnesium·ATP concentration and the ability of potassium to inhibit ouabain binding in the absence of sodium correlated with its ability to inhibit a ouabain-sensitive, magnesium-dependent ATPase activity, which was observed in the absence of sodium. These findings are consistent with glycoside binding to a receptor conformation that exist within the enzyme turnover cycle, which can operate under three conditions: high sodium and high potassium = fast rate; low sodium and zero potassium = intermediate rate; zero sodium and zero potassium = very slow rate. The antagonism between magnesium·ATP and potassium may reflect conversion of the enzyme from one state to another by magnesium·ATP which counteracts a potassium-induced stabilization of the other state. The kinetic data are also consistent with the existence of two sodium-dependent glycoside binding sites. If the latter were the case, analysis of the reaction rates at varying concentrations of sodium suggested two apparent "sites" for sodium-enzyme interaction, one with Ka of 16 mm and the other with Ka of 0.63 mm.
Concentrations of ephedra alkaloids and caffeine in commercial dietary supplements.

Dietary supplements that contain Ma Huang (ephedra alkaloids) and guarana (caffeine) are widely marketed and used in the U.S. for weight loss and athletic performance enhancement, despite a lack of adequate research on the pharmacology of these botanical stimulants. We developed and applied a novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method to quantitate the various ephedra alkaloids found in dietary supplements that contain Ephedra species. The quantities of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, methylephedine, methylpseudoephedrine, and caffeine were determined for 35 commercial dietary supplements and compared with the amounts listed on the product labels. The total ephedra alkaloid content ranged from 5.97 mg to 29.3 mg per serving. Two supplement brands did not list the quantity of ephedra alkaloids on the label, and four did not list the amount of caffeine per serving. Of the products tested, 31% contained > 110% of the total ephedra alkaloids listed on the label, and 6% of the supplements contained 110% of the declared caffeine content. The total ephedra alkaloid content varied significantly from lot to lot in 5 of 9 products. Three product brands contained proportions of alkaloids that exceeded amounts reported for E. sinica, including one that was 98% ephedrine, one that had 10% norpseudoephedrine, and one that contained an average of 13% methylephedrine. We conclude that product inconsistency is common among some commercially available dietary supplements that contain ephedra alkaloids and caffeine.
On-chip oscilloscope for signal integrity characterization of interconnects in 130nm CMOS technology

In this work, the design of a prototype chip for signal integrity characterization in 130 nm CMOS technology is discussed. Measurement results for several interconnect configurations are presented. The goal is to accurately capture and characterize the transmission line properties of deep-submicron interconnects in order to generate guidelines for multi-GHz clock rate designs.
Taribavirin in the treatment of hepatitis C

Introduction: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is limited by substantial side effects including ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia. Taribavirin, a ribavirin prodrug, was designed to concentrate within the liver to target HCV-infected hepatocytes while minimizing distribution within red blood cells (RBCs) and the subsequent development of hemolytic anemia. Areas covered: The objective of the review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of taribavirin as compared with ribavirin in the treatment of chronic HCV infections. A PubMed search was performed using the following key words: viramidine, taribavirin and ribavirin analog. Additional sources included press releases on preliminary results of clinical trials of taribavirin and abstracts presented at international meetings. The literature suggests that weight-based dosing of taribavirin at 25 mg/kg demonstrates lower rates of hemolytic anemia with comparable rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) and is the optimum dose for further studies...
FairCloud: sharing the network in cloud computing

The network is a crucial resource in cloud computing, but in contrast to other resources such as CPU or memory, the network is currently shared in a best effort manner. However, sharing the network in a datacenter is more challenging than sharing the other resources. The key difficulty is that the network allocation for a VM X depends not only on the VMs running on the same machine with X, but also on the other VMs that X communicates with, as well as on the cross-traffic on each link used by X. In this paper, we first propose a set of desirable properties for allocating the network bandwidth in a datacenter at the VM granularity, and show that there exists a fundamental tradeoff between the ability to share congested links in proportion to payment and the ability to provide minimal bandwidth guarantees to VMs. Second, we show that the existing allocation models violate one or more of these properties, and propose a mechanism that can select different points in the aforementioned tradeoff between payment proportionality and bandwidth guarantees.
Sex Differences in Gray Matter Changes and Brain-Behavior Relationships in Patients with Stimulant Dependence

Widespread neuroanatomic changes in patients with stimulant dependence were observed in women but not in men after prolonged abstinence; sexual dimorphism in drug-related brain morphometry and brain-behavior relationships may be mechanisms underlying the different clinical profiles of addiction in women and men.
Building an education ecology on serious game design and development for the One Laptop Per Child and Sugar platforms: A service learning course builds a base for peer mentoring, Cooperative Education internships and sponsored research

An initial seminar course teaching STEM Educational Game Development for the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) XO series of laptops and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) methodologies has spawned a broad educational effort at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Students who completed the course began mentoring new students on their own time and recruiting them to continue developing the veterans' on-going game projects. The service learning aspects of the course and the high profile of the OLPC program and Sugar Labs (SL) student game projects have led to Undergraduate Research Fellowships and other sponsored research opportunities. This paper will describe the evolution of the curriculum, the game projects and related efforts that have emerged from it with the goal of reaching an audience interested in replicating the course, its goals and/or the ecology that has emerged from it.
Respiratory variation of the diameter of the pancreatic duct on sonography.

OBJECTIVE . The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of a 1-mm or greater increase in the diameter of the pancreatic duct during deep inspiration in patients without pancreatic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS . A retrospective review was performed of normal findings on pancreatic sonograms of 25 consecutive lean patients without pancreatic disease who were capable of taking deep breaths. The anteroposterior diameter of the pancreatic duct in the body of the gland was measured at end-expiration and end-inspiration. A significant change was defined as a 1-mm or greater difference between the end-inspiratory and end-expiratory diameters for at least two of three consecutive breaths. RESULTS . Seven patients (28%) had a significant increase in the diameter of the pancreatic duct at end-inspiration. These included four patients (16%) in whom the diameter of the duct was less than or equal to 2.5 mm (i.e., normal) at end-inspiration and three patients (12%) in whom the diameter of the duct was greater than 2.5 mm at end-inspiration. CONCLUSION . The diameter of the pancreatic duct can increase during deep inspiration in some adults without pancreatic disease. This finding should be borne in mind as a potential pitfall during pancreatic sonography.
Efficacy of Metformin and Topiramate in Prevention and Treatment of Second-Generation Antipsychotic–Induced Weight Gain

ObjectiveTo review the literature describing the efficacy of metformin and topiramate for the treatment of second-generation antipsychotio–induced weight gain.Data sourcesArticles were identified by searching the MEDLINE database (from 1949 through January 2010) using the key words metformin, topiramate, antipsychotic, weight, weight gain, and obesity.Study selection and data extractionAll randomized, place bo-controlled trials of metformin and topiramate were selected for review.Data synthesisWeight gain due to second-generation antipsychotic use is a concern due to the risk of long-term metabolic and cardiovascular effects with these agents. These effects include obesity, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance, all of which may contribute to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Second-generation antipsychotics vary in the degree to which they cause weight gain, and dietary and lifestyle changes may not be feasible or sufficient in counteracting this weight gain. Although other pharmacologic agents may be...
A matched crossover design for clinical trials.

Two design principles are used frequently in clinical trials: 1) A subject is "matched" or "paired" with a similar subject to reduce the chance that other variables obscure the primary comparison of interest. 2) A subject serves as his/her own control by "crossing over" from one treatment to another during the course of an experiment. There are situations in which it may be advantageous to use the two design principles –crossing over and matching –simultaneously. That is, it may be advantageous to conduct a "paired crossover design," in which each subject, while paired with a similar subject, crosses over and receives each experimental treatment. In this paper, we describe two clinical trials conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Asthma Clinical Research Network that used a paired 2 × 2 crossover design. The Beta Adrenergic Response by GEnotype (BARGE) Study compared the effects of regular use of inhaled albuterol on mildly asthmatic patients with different genotypes at the 16th position of the beta-agonist receptor gene. The Smoking Modulates Outcomes of Glucocorticoid (SMOG) Therapy in Asthma Study evaluated the hypothesis that smoking reduces the response to inhaled corticosteroids. For such paired crossover designs, the primary parameter of interest is typically the treatment-by-pairing interaction term. In evaluating the relative efficiency of the paired 2 × 2 crossover design to two independent crossover designs with respect to this interaction term, we show that the paired 2 × 2 crossover design is more efficient if the correlations between the paired members on the same treatments are greater than their correlations on different treatments. This condition should hold in most circumstances, and therefore the paired crossover design deserves serious consideration for any clinical trial in which the crossing over and matching of subjects is deemed simultaneously beneficial.
Biopolymer-Thin Film Interactions

Biopolymer self assembly in heterogeneous lipid monolayers at the air-water interface was investigated. Fluorescence microscopy allowed the visualization of protein recognition and binding to these microstructured membranes. Mimicking protein-induced membrane microstructuring and protein docking was achieved in ternary mixed lipid monolayer systems.
Integration of neuroscience and endocrinology in hybrid PBL curriculum.

At the University of Missouri-Columbia, the medical school employs a problem-based learning curriculum that began in 1993. Since the curriculum was changed, student performance on step 1 of the Uni...
The Public Communication of Deliberation

Deliberative theory increasingly recognizes that the quality of policy deliberation, including its legitimacy and effectiveness, depends not only on the means by which a group arrives at a decision, but also on how the group communicates its process and decisions to those outside the group. Although deliberative democrats value publicity and transparency, few empirical studies have addressed the public communication of deliberation. In this article, we derive measures of the quality of external communication of deliberative processes and decisions from contemporary deliberative theory. Through content analysis, we demonstrate how these measures can be used to compare the quality of policy recommendations that emerged from three typical kinds of deliberative bodies - a government-led stakeholder process, a convening of activists, and a citizen forum - all of which addressed the same issue of broadband Internet policy. We conclude with suggestions for how research on the communication of deliberation could help explain the perceived legitimacy of deliberative advisory bodies and their effects on policymaking.
Developing Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills: Diversity Training Makes a Difference?

As the population becomes more diverse, social work educators will bear a larger responsibility for educating culturally competent practitioners. To enhance student learning, research should consider those factors that influence students' multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills. This information potentially can help students better prepare for cultural competency courses and improve student outcomes. The focus of this study was to evaluate BSW and MSW students' (N = 191) multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills at the beginning and end of a required cultural diversity course. The results indicate that more previous diversity trainings at different sites consistently predict higher pre-test scores while previous diversity training sites and pre-test scores predict post-test scores. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of research, practice, and teaching implications.
Interview: Interview with Jay Kesan

Professor Jay Kesan is the Director of the Program in Intellectual Property & Technology Law at the University of Illinois, College of Law (IL, USA). At the Institute of Genomic Biology (CA, USA), he is group leader of the Business, Economics & Law of Genomic Biology theme, and directs research on biofuel law and regulation at the Energy Biosciences Institute. His academic interests are in the areas of technology, law and business, with a specific focus on agricultural biotechnology law and biofuels regulation. Kesan has participated twice in panels at the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice Hearings on the Implications of Competition and Patent Law and Policy, and has also testified about biofuel regulation issues before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Most recently, Kesan has served as a Thomas A Edison Scholar at the US Patent and Trademark Office. Professor Kesan speaks to Ruth Williamson, Comm...
Photo-induced conformational flexibility in single solution-phase peridinin-chlorophyll-proteins.

The peridinin-chlorophyll-protein (PCP) is an accessory light-harvesting complex found in red-tide dinoflagellates. PCP absorbs photons primarily in the blue-green spectral region via peridinin (Pe...
What this Study is About

This cross-cultural study explores an alternative perspective on teacher work life in secondary schools in ten different countries. It adds a new dimension of teacher role for teachers who may be interested in accepting and taking responsibilities for the organizational improvement of their school as a knowledgeable and encouraging workplace, and ideally as an eventually recognized setting for teacher learning and professional development.
INFLUENCE OF HEAT TREATMENT TEMPERATURE ON THE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF PAN-BASED CARBON FIBERS

The influence of heat treatment temperature on the properties of 3K PAN-based carbon fibers was investigated.The results showed that with the increase of heat treatment temperature,both the carbon content and tensile modulus of carbon fibers were enhanced,however the linear density decreased.The tensile strength of carbon fibers generally lowered than that without heat-treatment,and the decreased value was various with the different temperature treatment.
Peggy Levitt, Artifacts and Allegiances: How Museums Put the Nation and the World on Display.

Through an interdisciplinary and methodologically ambitious approach combining network ethnography, cultural analysis, and comparative sociology, Peggy Levitt shows how museums throughout the world enact ideals of cosmopolitanism mediated by national and regional culture. The book offers valuable insights to scholars interested in place, culture, and global politics, and presents a fresh empirical perspective on contemporary museums by explaining how they respond to the effects of globalization.
Quantitation and topography of membrane proteins in highly water-permeable vesicles from ADH-stimulated toad bladder

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) stimulation of toad bladder granular cells rapidly increases the osmotic water permeability (Pf) of their apical membranes by insertion of highly selective water channels. Before ADH stimulation, these water channels are stored in large cytoplasmic vesicles called aggrephores. ADH causes aggrephores to fuse with the apical membrane. Termination of ADH stimulation results in prompt endocytosis of water channel-containing membranes via retrieval of these specialized regions of apical membrane. Protein components of the ADH water channel contained within these retrieved vesicles would be expected to be integral membrane protein(s) that span the vesicle9s lipid bilayer to create narrow aqueous channels. Our previous work has identified proteins of 55 (actually a 55/53-kDa doublet), 17, 15, and 7 kDa as candidate ADH water channel components. We now have investigated these candidate ADH water channel proteins in purified retrieved vesicles. These vesicles do not contain a functional proton pump as assayed by Western blots of purified vesicle protein probed with anti-H(+)-ATPase antisera. Approximately 60% of vesicle protein is accounted for by three protein bands of 55, 53, and 46 kDa. Smaller contributions to vesicle protein are made by the 17- and 15-kDa proteins. Triton X-114-partitioning analysis shows that the 55, 53, 46, and 17 kDa are integral membrane proteins. Vectorial labeling analysis with two membrane-impermeant reagents shows that the 55-, 53-, and 46-kDa protein species span the lipid bilayer of these vesicles. Thus the 55-, 53-, and 46-kDa proteins possess characteristics expected for ADH water channel components. These data show that the 55- and 53- and perhaps the 46-, 17-, and 15-kDa proteins are likely components of aqueous transmembrane pores that constitute ADH water channels contained within these vesicles.
[Investigation on behavior-influencing factors of 226 addicts of voluntary detoxification].

自愿戒毒足指吸毒人员自愿到社会上开设的戒毒所戒除毒瘾,戒毒回归社会后自觉拒绝毒品.目前,北京市部分医疗机构已开展自愿戒毒治疗业务,但大多数自愿戒毒机构规模小,功能不全,并以盈利为目的且吸毒者复吸率高,戒毒效果不理想.为深入了解自愿戒毒人群的生存状况,掌握影响戒毒行为的主要因素,展开此项现况调查。
Stimulation and binding of myocardial phospholipase C by phosphatidic acid

Exposure of adult ventricular myocytes to exogenous natural phosphatidic acid results in the production of inositol phosphates by unknown mechanism(s). We characterized stimulation of myocytic phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) by synthetic dioleoyl phosphatidic acid (PA) as a potential mechanism for modulation of inositol phosphate production. Our data demonstrate that exogenous PA, at 10(-8)-10(-5) M, caused a concentration-dependent increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in adult rabbit ventricular myocytes. PA also caused a concentration-dependent increase in in vitro activity of myocytic PLC in the presence or absence of ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). PLC-delta 1, the predominant isozyme of PLC expressed in adult rabbit ventricular myocytes, bound to liposomes of PA with high affinity in the presence of EGTA. The phosphomonoester group of PA was critical to in vitro stimulation of myocytic PLC activity and high-affinity binding of PLC-delta 1. We propose that binding of PLC-delta 1 to phosphatidic acid may be a novel mechanism for dynamic membrane association and modulation of PLC in adult ventricular myocytes.
SU‐F‐I‐75: Half‐Value Layer Thicknesses and Homogeneity Coefficients for Fluoroscopic X‐Ray Beam Spectra Incorporating Spectral Filtration

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation is to quantify various first half-value-layers (HVLs), second HVLs and homogeneity coefficients (HCs) for a state-of-the-art fluoroscope utilizing spectral (copper) filtration. Methods: A Radcal (Monrovia, Ca) AccuPro dosimeter with a 10×6-6 calibrated ionization chamber was used to measure air kerma for radiographic x-ray exposures made on a Siemens (Erlangen, Germany) Artis ZeeGo fluoroscope operated in the service mode. The ionization chamber was centered in the x-ray beam at 72 cm from the focal spot with a source-to-image-distance of 120 cm. The collimators were introduced to limit the x-ray field to approximately 5 cm × 5 cm at the ionization chamber plane. Type-1100 aluminum filters, in 0.5 mm increments, were used to determine the HVL. Two HVL calculation methods were used, log-linear interpolation and Lambert-W interpolation as described by Mathieu [Med Phys, 38(8), 4546 (2011)]. Multiple measurements were made at 60, 80, 100, 120 kVp at spectral filtration thicknesses of 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mm. Results: First HVL, second HVL, and HCs are presented for the fluoroscopic x-ray beam spectra indicated above, with nearly identical results from the two interpolation methods. Accuracy of the set kVp was also determined and deviated less than 2%. First HVLs for fluoroscopic x-ray beam spectra without spectral filtration determined in our study were 7%–16% greater than previously published data by Fetterly et al. [Med Phys, 28, 205 (2001)]. However, the FDA minimum HVL requirements changed since that publication, requiring larger HVLs as of 2006. Additionally, x-ray tube and generator architecture have substantially changed over the last 15 years providing different beam spectra. Conclusion: X-ray beam quality characteristics for state-of-the-art fluoroscopes with spectral filtration have not been published. This study provides reference data which will be useful for defining beam qualities encountered on fluoroscopes using spectral filtration.
Interventions for family members caring for an elder with dementia.

This chapter reviews 73 published and unpublished research reports of interventions for family members caring for an elder with dementia by nurse researchers and researchers from other disciplines. Reports were identified through searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Social Science Index, PsycINFO, ERIC, Social Work Abstracts, American Association of Retired Persons database, CRISP index of the National Institutes of Health, Cochrane Center database, and Dissertation Abstracts using the following search terms: caregiver, caregiving, dementia, Alzheimer's, intervention study, evaluation study, experimental, and quasi-experimental design. Additional keywords were used to narrow or expand the search as necessary. All nursing research was included in the review and nonnursing research was included if published between 1991 and 2001. Studies were included if they used a design that included a treatment and control group or a one-group, pretest-posttest design (ex post facto designs were included if they used a comparison group). Key findings show that approximately 32% of the study outcomes (e.g., burden, depression, knowledge) were changed after intervention in the desired direction. In addition, several problematic issues were identified including small, diverse samples; lack of intervention specificity; diversity in the length, duration, and intensity of the intervention strategies; and problematic outcome measures.
Effects of dielectric material properties on metalized film capacitor performance

The effects of dielectric constant and in-plane thermal conductivity of capacitor film on the maximum temperature rise per unit power dissipation or K/W in a DC-link capacitor were studied based on finite element computations which were compared with analytical approximations. The K/W was found to scale with the dielectric constant and the in-plane thermal conductivity according to a power-law relationship with an exponent of 0.9 and −0.65, respectively. While losses induced by film metallization usually dominate heat generation within a capacitor, conduction losses due to electrical conductivity higher than 10−13 S/m become significant.
Multidisciplinary Perspectives to Advance Rural Education Research

This chapter focuses on perspectives and recommendations of rural education researchers, practitioners, and policy makers about the critical role of research in rural education, the current condition of rural education research, and future directions. These perspectives were obtained from focused discussions of participants attending Connect-Inform-Advance, a National Conference on Rural Education Research held in April 2013 and sponsored by the National Center for Research on Rural Education. In order to capture the depth of these discussions, extensive notes were taken and analyzed qualitatively to glean insight into key considerations for future rural education research agendas. Results from the analysis resulted in four major themes: (a) defining and accounting for the rural context and culture, (b) identifying rural influences on student outcomes, (c) engaging in interdisciplinary and multidirectional research partnerships, and (d) disseminating rural research results and determining future targets.
B lymphocytes limit the severity of emphysema caused by N. brasiliensis infection in mice (INC4P.332)

The intestinal nematode parasite, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb), transiently resides in the lung causing lung damage, resulting in emphysema. However, the mechanisms contributing to this chronic lung pathology remain not well-defined. Here we show that emphysema develops as early as 7 days after Nb inoculation, as measured by alveolar mean linear chord length and is associated with increased neutrophil elastase (NE) and macrophage matrix metalloproteinase 12 (Mmp12) gene expression in the lung. Transfer of sorted Nb-primed neutrophils or macrophages to naive recipients results in emphysema, indicating that either of these populations can trigger lung emphysema in naive mice. Parasite infection also results in more severe emphysema in B cell deficient Jh -/- mice compared to wild-type mice or FcRγ -/- mice and is associated with higher numbers of neutrophils and macrophages, as well as increased expression of NE and Mmp12 in the lung. Transfer of B lymphocytes from wild-type mice to the Jh -/- mice can restore control of emphysema. These data suggest that Nb-primed neutrophils and macrophages contribute to lung emphysema. Furthermore, parasite-induced B cells exert regulatory effects that can markedly reduce the severity of emphysema.
Creating the Best Possible Health Education Cover Letter and Resume

This article provides an overview of job application strategies for the field of health education. Employment in a non-academic setting is emphasized. Tips for cover letter and resume writing are highlighted.